"Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability" ~ William Osler
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  • The American Osler Society is a history of medicine organization dedicated to perpetuating the life, teachings, and ethical example of Sir William Osler.
    The American Osler Society is a history of medicine organization dedicated to perpetuating the life, teachings, and ethical example of Sir William Osler.

The American Osler Society

The course of William Osler's life took him from a parsonage in the Canadian wilderness, the youngest of a clergyman's children, to a prestigious post at Oxford University, a baronetcy, and the reputation of being the world's greatest physician. A scientist, doctor and teacher, Osler never made any major medical discoveries. But he wrote a landmark medical textbook, reformed medical education, and changed the lives of multitudes. The American Osler Society perpetuates Osler's legacy for future generations and promotes his personal ideals of doing the day's work well, living the Golden Rule toward colleagues and patients and the equanimity to bear success with humility, sorrow with courage and affection without pride.

New for 2023

The Blog: Curated by Michael Stanley, the AOS Blog is designed for members to contribute items for general discussion.  Click on Blog in the menu above for more information.

New Media Presence for the AOS: Managed by Rob Stone, the AOS now has a presence (channels) on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Through these links you will find interviews with AOS members and other content, this year featuring  Robert Mennel, Mario Molina, Leonard Wang and Marvin Stone. Podcasts feature interviews with members of the society as well as medical students, physicians, and others interested in Sir William Osler, medical humanities, and the history of medicine.

Ask Osleriana 

The transition to the new platform is complete and documents continue to be uploaded to the application.  Dokmee, our new platform, allows both a more robust search function and the ability for multiple researchers to use the database simultaneously.

American College of Surgeons History Essay Competition

The ACS is offering an essay competition in the history of surgery. More information may be found by clicking on the Bean Award tab at the top of this page.