OUR HISTORY
History of the Nashville Surgical Society
The Society was organized early in 1940 with stated purpose of “the advancement of the art and science of surgery by: (1) the free and informal interchange of ideas pertaining to the science and practice of surgery; (2) the encouragement of continuous critical study of surgical methods now in use and constructive criticism of new ideas for the advancement of surgery, (3) improvement in the facilities available to the members for the practice of surgery.”
There were fifteen founding members, notably including Alfred Blalock, Barney Brooks, L.W. Edwards, Duncan Eve, Cobb Pilcher, and Harrison Shoulders, the first President. There were 32 charter members from various surgical specialties.
The membership has consisted of Presidents of the Southern Surgical Society (11), American Medical Association (2), American College of Surgeons (3), American Surgical Association (3), as well as Presidents of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Society of University Surgeons, and the American Association of Neurological Surgery.
Of the three stated purposes, the third has been replaced by providing a venue for friendship, networking, and collegiality among surgeons from all local practice sites, and inclusion of presentations of general interest from non-surgeons, including a Governor of Tennessee, a U.S senator and Representative, coaches of local professional and college sports teams, local authors, and others. Visiting professors of national and international importance are brought in for the Annual Oration, previously an elegant black tie affair. The longstanding traditions of the Society are also represented by at least 12 two generation memberships and one three generation membership of surgeons. Residents’ Night was instituted in 1969, affording opportunity for surgical trainees from Vanderbilt, Meharry and UT/Ascension St. Thomas to present their research, meet surgeons from other institutions, and learn about both academic and community practices in Nashville and surrounding communities. Many have subsequently established practices in Middle Tennessee and have become members of the Nashville Surgical Society.
