History of the Bean Award

William Bennet Bean, MD (1909-1989), whose father was one of Osler's residents, was the first president of the American Osler Society (1970-1971). The Society wished to encourage medical student interest and study in the Oslerian values of medical humanism and respect for the history of medicine and developed a student research award in 1986. This award was named in Dr. Bean’s honor in 1990.

The American Osler Society has given more than $150,000 to medical students since the research award’s founding. Historically, the Society made one or two awards annually, but in recent years it has offered as many as six. The award is supported by Society members and the number granted is based on the merit of the applications and the funds available.

Many Bean awardees have presented their work to the Society, which offers travel funds and free registration to support awardee attendance. Please see Bean Award Examples and How to Apply.