Harvey Cushing

Date of Birth: April 8, 1869

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: October 7, 1939

Biography

Harvey Williams Cushing was a pioneering American neurosurgeon, pathologist, writer, and educator, often referred to as the “father of modern neurosurgery.” Born on April 8, 1869, in Cleveland, Ohio, Cushing made groundbreaking contributions to brain surgery and the understanding of brain tumors. He developed many of the basic surgical techniques for operating on the brain that are still used today. Cushing earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1895 and went on to train under prominent surgeons in the United States and Europe. Throughout his career, Cushing was known for his meticulous surgical techniques and innovations, including the introduction of the blood pressure cuff for monitoring blood pressure during surgery. He also authored numerous texts and research papers on neurosurgery and related fields. In 1932, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Sir William Osler, a renowned Canadian physician. His work extended beyond surgery; Cushing’s research contributed significantly to the understanding of pituitary gland disorders, leading to the identification of Cushing’s disease, a condition caused by an excess of cortisol due to a pituitary tumor. He passed away on October 7, 1939, but his legacy continues to influence modern medicine.

5 Interesting Facts about Harvey Cushing

1. Harvey Cushing introduced the use of X-rays for the diagnosis of brain tumors.

2. He is known for developing the technique of using a blood pressure cuff, known as the Riva-Rocci sphygmomanometer, to monitor blood pressure during surgery.

3. Cushing was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for his biography of Sir William Osler.

4. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

5. Harvey Cushing’s extensive collection of brain tumor specimens and clinical records is preserved at the Cushing Center at Yale University.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harvey Cushing

1. “A physician is obligated to consider more than a diseased organ, more even than the whole man – he must view the man in his world.”

2. “I would like to see the day when somebody would be appointed surgeon somewhere who had no hands, for the operative part is the least part of the work.”

3. “A certain degree of neuroses has always been a characteristic of the true physician.”

4. “The capacity of the human mind for swallowing nonsense and spewing it forth in violent and repressive action has never yet been plumbed.”

5. “If a physician does not acquire new knowledge to the day of his death, he is as much a traitor to his profession as the clergyman who ceases to be a student of the Bible.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Harvey Cushing’s net worth is not well-documented, as he lived during a time when such records were not commonly kept or publicized. However, his contributions to medicine were invaluable, and his legacy in neurosurgery is priceless.

Children

Harvey Cushing had five children with his wife, Katharine Stone Crowell: 1. Mary Benedict Cushing 2. Betsey Cushing Roosevelt Whitney 3. Henry Kirke Cushing 4. William Harvey Cushing 5. Barbara Cushing Paley