The Osler Societies: A qualitative and quantitative portrait

Abstract

Over 700 presentations have been given at the meetings of the American Osler Society (AOS) since its inception in 1970. Fully half of these have treated various aspects of Osler's personal and professional life. Many have dealt with Osler's specific contributions to an array of medical specialties. Other national/international Osler Societies including the Osler Club of London and the Japan Osler Society have treated similar topics but in different proportions historically. As the societies have matured, the foci of their talks have broadened from Osler and more bio-medical historical topics to include more of the contemporary ethical, ideological and socioeconomic issues facing the medical profession. Osler himself tended to speak more frequently on such topics in his later life. For Oslerians, Osler has had such a profound influence upon the history of medicine that, at least for them, to study Osler is to study the history of medicine. A description of the culture of the AOS meetings is ventured.

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References

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, The Gale Group, Farmington Hills, MI, 2002, revealed at least three other organizations named after physicians that appeared to be primarily social and intellectual, not simply foundations functioning as support groups or fund-raising societies. These included the Cajal Club, founded in 1947 and named after Dr Don Santiago Ramon y Cajal, whose members are primarily neuroanatomists (entry no. 13604, p. 1603, vol. II) and The Harvey Society, founded in 1905 ‘seeks to disseminate knowledge and promote the development of the biomedical Sciences’ (entry no. 13445, p.1583, vol. II). In 1940, the Frederick A Cook Society was conceived to promote the notion that Dr Cook led the first expedition that reached the North Pole (entry no. 10254, p. 1211, vol I). The American Osler Society is noted to consist of ‘Physicians, librarians and scientists united to further the humanistic approach to the study and practice of medicine’ (entry no. 13435, p. 1582, vol I). There are undoubtedly others. Hope springs eternal. It was recently announced that the Plummer Society was initiated at the Mayo Clinic, named in honour of Henry S Plummer, of Plummer-Vinson fame (Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2002; 77: 1182). There is also the George Dock Society in Los Angeles, California named after a disciple of Sir William Osler

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