Sir William Osler (1849–1919), widely regarded as the father of modern medicine, transformed medical education during his tenure at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He pioneered the internship and residency system and introduced the revolutionary concept of training students at the patient’s bedside.
We can learn so much from reading Osler’s words from over a hundred years ago. Here are a few of my favorite “Osler-isms.”
“A physician who treats himself has a fool for a patient.”
This timeless adage remains as relevant as ever.
“The young doctor should look about early for an avocation, a pastime, that will take him away from patients, pills, and potions.”
Osler reminds us to take time for life beyond medicine - “to smell the roses,” as it were.
“Throw away all ambition beyond that of doing the day’s work well. The travelers on the road to success live in the present, heedless of taking thought for the morrow. Live neither in the past nor in the future, but let each day’s work absorb your entire energies, and satisfy your wildest ambition.
In today’s era of mindfulness and meditation, Osler’s emphasis on living in the moment was far ahead of his time.
“The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head.”
A heartfelt reminder of the humanity inherent in medicine.
“Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine, as perhaps it may be thought, the true poetry of life - the poetry of the commonplace.”
A beautiful reflection on mindfulness and finding meaning in the everyday.
“I desire no other epitaph than the statement that I taught medical students in the wards, as I regard this as by far the most useful and important work that I have been called upon to do.”
Osler viewed bedside teaching as the pinnacle of his career.
“One finger in throat and one in the rectum makes a good diagnostician.”
Or, as some surgical professors put it, “If you don’t put your finger in, you’ll put your foot in.”
“Medicine is learned by the bedside and not in the classroom. Let not your conceptions of disease come from the words heard in the lecture room or read from the book. See and then reason and compare and control. But see first.”
Osler’s bedside teaching method remains essential, especially in an age where medical learning risks becoming overly didactic. After all, the bedside is where the patient is!
“It is astonishing with how little reading a doctor can practice medicine, but it is not astonishing how badly he may do it.”
Medicine demands continual learning; without it, practice suffers.
“To study the phenomena of disease without books is to sail an uncharted sea, while to study books without patients is not to go to sea at all.”
Balancing theoretical knowledge with clinical experience is the hallmark of a true physician.
Osler’s words, brimming with wisdom and humility, continue to inspire and guide physicians worldwide. His legacy underscores the enduring art and humanity of medicine.
Rick's Commentary
Sir William Osler’s words remind us of an enduring truth:
there is nothing new under the sun.
No matter how clever or innovative we think we are, many of the challenges we face and the solutions we propose have been encountered and addressed before. Osler’s wisdom underscores the importance of looking to the past - not just as a historical curiosity but as a wellspring of guidance.
The principles Osler championed, from bedside learning to living in the moment, remain profoundly relevant. They teach us that while the tools and technologies of veterinary medicine may evolve, the heart of veterinary practice - empathy, continuous learning, and the balance of art and science - is timeless.
We must learn from the past not only to honor those who paved the way but also to illuminate the path forward. By understanding the lessons of those before us, we can chart a future that blends the wisdom of experience with the promise of innovation.
As Osler himself might say, to ignore the past is to risk sailing
an uncharted sea without a compass.
Reference
10 Osler-isms to Remember in Your Daily Practice. https://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/blog/archive/2014/10-Osler-isms-to-Remember-in-Your-Daily-Practice.html
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