WELCOME
to the homepage of the Thomas F. Dodson Surgical History Society. This society was founded to foster interest and collaboration centered on the rich, meaningful, and colorful history of our field.
The objectives of the TFD Society are twofold:
To provide a forum to discuss notable surgical historical figures and events. At present, these will occur as quarterly meetings, outside of the hospital, with surgical history topic presentations led by both residents and faculty members.
To stimulate and facilitate research and academic pursuits in the field of surgical history, and organize, promote, and expand the study of surgical history among Emory surgical trainees and faculty.
TFD #13: THE LEGACY OF DR. W. DEAN WARREN BY DR. JOHN R. GALLOWAY AND PROFILES OF THE EARLIEST EMORY SURGEONS BY DR. JEROSON C. WILLIAMS
“ANESTHESIA, CALL THE BLOOD BANK I’M COMING IN!”
REMEMBERING DR. DAVID V. FELICIANO
The field of surgery, and the Emory Surgery Family particularly, mourn the loss of Dr. David V. Feliciano, a visionary who revolutionized lifesaving techniques and nurtured generations of healers. His brilliance touched countless lives, with families forever grateful for his unwavering dedication. While his absence leaves a deep void, his legacy lives on as shown here with Dr. Srinivasan presiding over his memoriam at SESC 2024.
Special Event: Vesalius Viewing
The TFD Surgical History Society, in collaboration with the Emory University Archives and Rare Book Library, is hosting a viewing and discussion of Vesalius' De Humani Corporis Fabrica (first edition, 1543) on June 7th, 2023 in the EUH H-100 Surgical Education Suite. De Humani Corporis is one of the most important books in the history of medicine, and the Emory has one of only 60 copies in existence. In addition to being a transformative piece of surgical and medical history, the Vesalius text is the oldest and one of the most valuable pieces in the Emory University Archives. Vesalius is known as the founder of modern human anatomy, and this book forever changed our understanding of the human body and contradicted many conclusions made by Galen, the famous Greek physician and philosopher whose work stood unquestioned for 1500 years.
The TFD Society #11 - Dr. David Elwood and Dr. Lovasik
The eleventh meeting of the TFD Society was held on May 13th, 2023 at the home of Dr. Joe Sharma.
Dr. David Elwood spoke about one of the early progressive European medical schools in “La Scuola Medica Salernitana: D.E.I. and the birth of Western medical education”. Dr. Lovasik discussed the musical friendship of Theodor Billroth and Johannes Brahms in "Imagination is the Mother of Both": The Friendship between Theodor Billroth and Johannes Brahms".
The TFD Society #10 - Dr. RB Smith and Dr. Jeroson Williams
The tenth meeting of the TFD Society was held on February 4th, 2023 at the home of Dr. William McKinnon.
Dr. RB Smith spoke about his vascular surgery mentor Art Vorhees in "Dr. Art Voorhees and the Development of Vascular Surgery". Dr. Jeroson Williams also discussed the Atlanta surgeon and civil rights pioneer Clinton Warner in his presentation "The Quadruple Threat Surgeon: Dr. Clinton Warner ".
Celebrating the life of Walter L. Ingram, MD
Grady Memorial Hospital recently honored the legacy of Walter L. Ingram with a ceremony on October 8th, 2022 at Grady Hospital. The memorial featured reflections from his surgical colleagues, Burn Center staff, and Burn Center patients, and was capped with the announcement of the renaming of the Walter L. Ingram Burn Center.
For those interested in purchasing the book, “This Book Knows More About Burns Than You: Walter L. Ingram, MD, Burn and Trauma Surgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital”, please click here to be redirected to the book order form. The book will feature “Ingramisms” and stories from his former trainees, as well as copies of all of his publications. One copy of the book will remain in the newly named Walter L. Ingram Burn Center, one will go to the Emory Surgery Chair’s library collection, and one will go to Dr. Ingram’s family. For anyone interested in purchasing a book, please know that any profits will go towards support of our resident needs when they are stationed at Grady.
The TFD Society #9 - Dr. Marti Russell and Dr. Brendan Lovasik
The ninth meeting of the TFD Society was held on September 24th, 2022 at the home of Dr. Marti Russell. Our invited guest was Dr. Panagiotis Symbas.
Dr. Russell spoke about Grady and Emory cardiothoracic surgical icon Panagiotis N. Symbas in "Panagiotis N. Symbas: Panagiotis of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University". Dr. Lovasik also discussed the history of cardiac xenotransplantation in his presentation "Cardiac Xenotransplantation: from Hardy to the Holy Grail".
The TFD Society #8 - Dr. Jahnavi Srinivasan and Dr. Brendan Lovasik
The eigth meeting of the TFD Society returned to a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting, and was held on April 30th, 2021 at the home of Dr. Thomas Dodson. The faculty speaker was Dr. Jahnavi Srinivasan, who spoke about former Emory faculty member Dr. William C. McGarity and his contributions towards the care of inflammatory bowel disease and endocrine surgery. Dr. Lovasik also discussed the history of King Edward VII and his case of appendicitis at the time of his planned coronation.
The life of former Emory surgeon Dr. H. Harlan Stone, who recently passed away, was also celebrated.
The TFD Society #7 - Dr. Don Nakayama, MD and a Tribute to Dr. Dodson
The seventh meeting of the TFD Society (and its fourth virtual meeting) was held on September 13th, 2021 via Zoom. Our invited speaker was Dr. Don Nakayama, who spoke about two iconic surgical portraits in "Antisepsis and Women in Surgery: Transitions in Eakins’ Clinic Masterpieces". Dr. Dodson's former trainees honored him with a lineage tree in commemoration of his personal and professional impact as their program director.
Oakland Cemetery Tour - Dr. William McKinnon
Dr. William “Bill” McKinnon hosted a tour of Oakland Cemetery on September 11, 2021, entertaining and educating residents and faculty with a history of the city of Atlanta and its citizens.
The TFD Society #6 - Dr. Brian Organ, MD and Dr. Brendan Lovasik, MD
The sixth meeting of the TFD Society (and its third virtual meeting) was held on June 14th, 2021 via Zoom. Our invited speaker was Dr. Brian Organ, who spoke about his father and American surgical icon Claude Organ in " Claude H. Organ, Jr, MD: A Son's Tribute. Dr. Lovasik also discussed the life of surgeon George Goodfellow in his presentation "George E. Goodfellow: the Surgeon of the Wild West and Father of Civilian Trauma Surgery".
The TFD Society #5 - Dr. Joe Sharma, MD and Dr. Brendan Lovasik, MD
The fifth meeting of the TFD Society (and its second virtual meeting) was held on March 15th, 2021 via Zoom. Our faculty speaker was Dr. Joe Sharma, who spoke to invited guests about the endocrinopathies as depicted in classical art. Dr. Lovasik also discussed the surgical histories of the US heads of state in his presentation on "Presidents under the Knife".
The TFD Surgical History Society Presents: A Black History Month Spotlight
Please view this interactive feature via this link
In honor of Black History Month, the Emory Department of Surgery, in collaboration with the TFD Surgical History Society, has highlighted an African American pioneer in the field of academic surgery, Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall. Dr. Leffall left an indelible mark on the field of surgery through dedicated leadership, a passion for education, and impactful research. In acknowledging the life and contributions of this luminary we hope to continue to celebrate the diverse history of our beloved field.
The TFD Society #4 - Dr. William McKinnon, MD and Dr. Brendan Lovasik, MD
The fourth meeting of the TFD Society (and its first virtual meeting) was held on December 14th, 2020 via Zoom. Our guest speaker was Dr. William “Bill” McKinnon, who spoke to invited guests about the history of early Atlanta medical and surgical history from the 1840s to 1920s. Dr. Lovasik also discussed Emory’s 1543 first edition of Vesalius’ “De humani corporis fabrica libri septem”.
The TFD Society #3 - Dr. Barbara Pettitt, MD and Dr. Brendan Lovasik, MD
The third meeting of the TFD Society was held on November 23, 2019 at the home of Dr. Barbara Pettitt, MD. Our guest speaker was Dr. Barbara Pettitt, who spoke to invited guests about the legacy of Helen Noblett, MD, a pioneer in pediatric GI surgery. Dr. Lovasik also discussed surgical treatments for pyloric stenosis.
The TFD Society #2 - Dr. Collin Weber, MD and Dr. Brendan Lovasik, MD
The second meeting of the TFD Society was held on March 2, 2019 at the home of Dr. Thomas Dodson, MD. Our guest speaker was Dr. Collin Weber, who spoke to invited guests about the history of thyroid/parathyroid surgery and Dr. Theodor Kocher. Dr. Lovasik also discussed the history of surgery for insulinomas, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and Dr. Allen Whipple.
The Inaugural Meeting of the TFD Society - Dr. Atef Salam, MD and Dr. Brendan Lovasik, MD
Our first meeting of the TFD society was hosted by Dr. Jahnavi Srinivasan, MD. At this meeting, our invited guest Dr. Atef Salam spoke with attendees about his time spent with Dr. Dean Warren in their development and experience with the distal spleno-renal shunt (the Warrant shunt) in patients suffering from portal hypertension. Resident member Brendan Lovasik also presented about "Residents behaving badly" - examples of leaders in the field of surgery who acted against the wishes of their mentors and became pioneers in their specialty.
