William Stewart Halsted

William Stewart Halsted (September 23, 1852 – September 7, 1922) was an American surgeon who emphasized strict aseptic technique during surgical procedures, was an early champion of newly discovered anesthetics, and introduced several new operations, including the radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Along with William Osler (Professor of Medicine), Howard Atwood Kelly (Professor of Gynecology), and William H. Welch (Professor of Pathology), Halsted is one of the "Big Four" founding professors at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Early life and education

Halsted was born on September 23, 1852 in New York City. His mother was Mary Louisa Haines and his father, William Mills Halsted, Jr., was a businessman. Halsted graduated from Phillips Academy in 1870 and then in 1874 from Yale College, where he was a member of Scroll and Key and Delta Kappa Epsilon. After graduation, he entered Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Career

Halsted was appointed as the first Surgeon-in-Chief of the new Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1889. He served there until his death in 1922. Halsted also introduced the surgical glove, which greatly reduced post-operative infection rates. He is also known for his advancements in thyroid, biliary tree, hernia, intestinal and arterial aneurysm surgeries.

Personal life and death

Halsted married Caroline Hampton in 1890. He died on September 7, 1922, from pneumonia.

Legacy

Halsted's work at Johns Hopkins led to many fundamental advances in surgery. His emphasis on aseptic technique, gentle handling of tissues, and meticulous surgical technique led to significantly improved surgical outcomes.

See also

• History of medicine
• History of surgery
• Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

External links

• William Stewart Halsted papers at the National Library of Medicine

William Stewart Halsted Resources
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