Founded by four Scottish physicians, the McGill School of Medicine opened in 1829. Teaching style in the school followed the so-called Edinburgh tradition, which for decades emphasized anatomy and clinical observation and ignored progressive educational theory and scientific advances. Out of this conservative environment, however, emerged four remarkable young professors who would lead the reform that marked a new era in medicine at McGill. William Osler, Francis Shephard, Thomas Roddick, and George Ross introduced laboratory training to teach students the scientific method in a hands-on environment and to encourage them to develop a more sophisticated approach to clinical medicine and surgery. McGill Medicine: Volume 1 records not only the history of Canada's premier medical school but also the evolution of scientific medical education in Lower Canada.

Joseph Hanaway is clinical assistant professor of neurology, Washington University School of Medicine. Richard L. Cruess, professor of orthopaedic surgery, McGill University, was dean of medicine from 1981 to 1995 and is an officer in the Order of Canada

Joseph Hanaway's profile page

Richard Cruess' profile page