Healing and Heroism

The centennial anniversary of this distinguished lecture series provides an opportunity to survey our profession from a long perspective, one that encompasses decades and perhaps even centuries. I would like to speak briefly about the physicians in the Shattuck family and then reflect at greater length on Sir William Osler, who was the fourth Shattuck Lecturer. I will consider what made Osler a hero to the public as well as to the medical profession, and why for a hundred years he has been regarded as the preeminent role model for a physician. A centennial anniversary is also a time to . . .