Famous American Doctors

American doctors have done pioneering work in their respective fields - be it the first polio vaccine, specialization in diabetes, or any leading work, that has won them the Nobel Prize for many years. They have always stood distinct from the rest of the world. Here is a peek into their works.

Charles Horace Mayo

One of the most famous doctors in America, Charles Mayo (July 19, 1865 - May 26, 1939) was one of the founder members of Mayo Clinic that is an internationally renowned non-profit medical organization headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. Charles Mayo, along with his six partners, established the world's first integrated (Mayo Properties Association) group practice. It is said that in his lifetime, Charles Mayo registered one million patients.

William James Mayo

William James Mayo (June 29,1861 - July 28, 1939), elder brother of Charles Horace Mayo, was one of the founding members of Mayo Clinic. He joined his father's private medical practice after graduating from a medical school in 1880s. In 1919, this private practice came to be known as non-profit Mayo Clinic. William recounts an incident when his father had to perform an autopsy on a stormy night. He was 16 years old and his father had taken him along. He stood there watching the procedure. His father finished and had to rush to see another patient. He asked William to clean up and sew the incisions, tucking the sheet around the corpse. Instead of running away, William stood there and did what his father had asked him to do.

William Osler Abott

William Osler (July 26, 1902 - September 10, 1943) was a well known physician of his time. His most known contribution was the development of Miller-Abbott tube that had two lumens – one ended in a small collapsible balloon whereas the other, was a metallic tip with numerous openings. He is often considered as the 'father of modern medicine.'

Benjamin Spock

Benjamin Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998) was an American pediatrician, often referred to as the 'world's most famous baby doctor.' He authored a book called Baby and Child Care in 1946, which is one of the bestsellers of all time. His line for all mothers was, "You know more than you think you do." He was also the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis in order to understand the needs of children . A good sportsperson, Dr Benjamin Spock was also an Olympic gold-medalist in rowing.

Jonas Salk

Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) a medical researcher and virologist, is known for his work on the development of the first safe and efficient polio vaccine. His parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants but they left no stone unturned to make sure that he got the best of education.

Elliot P. Joslin

The first doctor in the United States to specialize in diabetes, Elliot Joslin (June 6, 1869 – January 28, 1962) was the founder of Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research center. He stood for teaching patients to take care of their diabetes, the approach now known as Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME).

These were a few of the famous American doctors who not only made a difference in the United States, but throughout the whole world. Their significant contributions will always be remembered.