This book chronicles the story behind the evolution of one of the nation’s foremost medical societies, the American College of Surgeons. Drs. Nahrwold and Kernahan devoted four years to researching and writing this engaging account of the College’s achievements, occasional setbacks, and changes in direction as the College steadily works to influence the course of scientific surgery in America and establish itself as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The authors vividly capture the complex personalities of the leaders of the College through the first 100 years. The American College of Surgeons opened its Archives to the authors, providing access to materials not previously available. This work is an authoritative history of the College, published during its Centennial celebration.

About the authors: David L. Nahrwold is retired chair of surgery at Northwestern University, Chicago, and Peter J. Kernahan is a surgeon and medical historian who has written a thesis on the College’s formation.

David Nahrwold, MD, FACS

To celebrate the centennial of the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), David L. Nahrwold, MD, FACS, has written a history of the ACS member magazine.

“After studying the history of the College and the content of 100 years of Bulletins,” writes Dr. Nahrwold in the book’s foreword, “I soon realized that the Bulletin has conveyed the remarkable story of how the College and its members laid the foundation for our health care system.”

The book covers the history of the magazine through the end of World War II, and illuminates the background, concerns, and personalities of the College’s founders and leaders as they explained and defended their actions to the members and determined what role the ACS would play in the practice of surgery.

Walter J Pories, MD, FACS.

Do No Harm is the second volume of cartoons drawn by Walter J. Pories, MD, FACS, and in it he offers a look at surgical life through the eyes of a master surgeon. He captures the truth while never allowing himself to take things too seriously. From the author: "Cartooning is not all that difficult. Just have free access to a medical empire, make rounds in the hospital, go to a medical congress, attend a faculty workshop or a 'critical called meeting,' and watch what happens. You will not be able to draw fast enough to capture the humor. This collection, including some cartoons published in our 'best' medical journals, is ample evidence."

Gordon L Telford, MD, FACS.

Franklin H. Martin, MD, FACS, founder of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), grew up in a rural community in Wisconsin, where he spent his youth as a farm laborer, brick worker, janitor, handyman, and teacher before pursuing a career in medicine.

Dr. Martin also co-founded the Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital in Chicago, founded the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and the ACS Clinical Congress, developed the Hospital Standardization Program, and served on the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense in preparation for World War I, among other achievements.

Examining Dr. Martin's little-examined rural youth, author Gordon L. Telford, MD, FACS, says, "This book provides insight into the impact of Dr. Franklin Martin’s early years in Wisconsin on his later accomplishments and hypothesizes that his rural upbringing helped him become a great leader. The book also describes other very accomplished surgeons and individuals who benefitted from a rural/farm upbringing."

David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS; Ajit K. Sachdeva, MD, FACS; Lewis M. Flint, MD, FACS; J. David Richardson, MD, FACS, Editors.

Optimal Resources for Surgical Education and Training, the “Gold Book,” is the definitive guide to training surgeons of the future. The breadth and depth of the field of surgery has only expanded in recent years and this manual serves as an authoritative reference for surgical education leaders, as well as a roadmap for residency training programs to ensure educational excellence in the training of surgery residents of all specialties. Experts contributed to every chapter, creating a comprehensive overview of each aspect of surgical education. The book covers the optimal theoretical, educational, and practical resources needed to train surgical residents.

This manual is written for surgical faculty and leadership, professional educators, hospital administrators, surgical residents, and anyone involved in surgical resident education and training.

David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS, and Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, Editors.

Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety is intended to be a trusted resource for surgical leaders seeking to improve patient care in their institutions, departments, and practices. It builds on the the College’s long tradition of developing successful quality programs for improving surgical care, and introduces key concepts in quality, safety, and reliability and explores the essential elements that all hospitals should have in place to ensure patient-centered care.

The Big Z: The Life of Robert M. Zollinger, MD. Craig Miller, MD, FACS, researched and wrote this engaging account of the impressive life and career of Robert M. Zollinger, MD, FACS. The narrative is a compelling read for anyone interested in the story behind a legend of the surgical profession.

David Nahrwold, MD, FACS

An account of the extraordinary life of C. Rollins Hanlon, MD, FACS, Director of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), 1969–1986. Dr. Hanlon, an erudite, principled cardiothoracic surgeon and innovator, co-developed the Blalock-Hanlon operation with Alfred Blalock. He had a distinguished surgical career, including stints at Johns Hopkins and at St. Louis University—where, as chair of surgery, he developed the institution's cardiac research capabilities, which helped to pioneer early open-heart and heart-transplant procedures. As Director, President, and Executive Consultant for the ACS, Dr. Hanlon had a profound effect on the direction and philosophy of the College. He received the first ACS Lifetime Achievement Award.