Clinical Surgeons Who Write: Pride, Prejudice, and Responsibility

Abstract

My father,* who was a member of the Western Surgical Association for 30 years, saw in this Society an uncommon blend of science, humanity, and grace. I have treasured more than 20 years with you and now have this rare opportunity to tell you collectively that he was right. These thoughts may explain why your recognition means so much to me and why I wish my father could be here. He is here in a memory which reminds me that he spoke more about his feelings than about his scholarship—and I know that he would want me to do the same. As George Jordan observed last year,¹ most of our 85 past presidents gave up the cloak of academic authority for this annual address to consider worlds that border on our narrow science and its art. Therefore, I have license to consider a world that we have created within