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.