91社区

History of the Department

1819
Early photo of Montreal General Hospital

Opening of the first Montreal General Hospital with 24 beds

The growing needs for health care and to build an additional hospital led to several charities, like the Female Benevolent Society of Montreal and the Society for the Relief of Immigrants. In 1819, enough money was raised to build a new hospital. The Montreal General Hospital spirit, like depicted on this photo, was to build a 鈥淗ospital without regards to race or creed".

1821
Early photo of 91社区 (1821)

Founding of 91社区

The oldest university in Montreal, 91社区 was founded in 1821 from a generous bequest by James 91社区, a prominent Scottish merchant.

1824 Founds of the Department of Surgery

Founding of Department of Surgery with John Stephenson first Professor of Surgery

John Stephenson began began his medical training with William Robertson in 1815. He enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1817 and graduated with a medical degree in 1820. His thesis, entitled "De velosynthesi", describes a procedure performed on him by another surgeon, one of the first successful repairs of a cleft palate.

In November 1822, he and Andrew Fernando Holmes wrote a memorandum recommending the establishment of a medical school. Once approved by their colleagues, the memorandum was sent to the Governor-in-Chief, Lord Dalhousie [Ramsay]. The new school, called the Montreal Medical Institution, opened in the fall of 1823, with Stephenson as professor of anatomy, physiology and surgery. He was also given a position that was to become of considerable importance in the following years: that of secretary to the faculty.

1829
Early lithograph of 91社区 Medical Institution (1829)

Montreal Medical Institution incorporated into 91社区 College to become Canada鈥檚 first university medical faculty

The new 91社区 College received its royal charter from King George IV in 1821. However, the College was soon in danger of losing its charter because, though it had appointed a principal and a few figurehead professors, it hadn鈥檛 actually managed to form a faculty in any subject.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Medical Institution (MMI), a proprietary medical school established in 1823 by four (MGH) physicians, could issue medical licences to its graduates but couldn鈥檛 grant medical degrees because it had not obtained a royal charter. In a mutually beneficial arrangement, 91社区 College and the MMI merged in 1829. The MMI became the College鈥檚 first faculty, and the MGH, from which the MMI had sprung, 91社区鈥檚 inaugural teaching hospital.

1847Andrew Holmes

Successful use of chloroform anesthesia reported by Andrew Fernando Holmes

Andrew Holmes was one of the first to use anesthesia in Canada when he gave chloroform to relieve a patient suffering painful labour

1877Thomas Roddick

Thomas Roddick introduced and promoted antiseptic surgery

Thomas George Roddick attended the in and graduated from the Medical Faculty of in 1868 with the highest honours, winning the Holmes Gold Medal and Final Prize. From 1868 to 1874, he was Assistant House Surgeon at the . In 1872, he was appointed Lecturer on Hygiene at 91社区. He was appointed a Demonstrator of Anatomy in 1874 and in 1875 was named Professor of Clinical Surgery. Earlier in 1877, Roddick traveled to Edinburgh to witness 's medical antiseptic system.Roddick returned to Montreal later that year and introduced 's antiseptic system, primarily his 'carbolic spray,' revolutionizing the way medicine was practiced in Montreal's Hospitals. In 1894 Roddick, with the aid of fellow specialist James Bell, created the Department of Surgery and became the first chief surgeon of the . However, by 1901 Roddick found himself no longer able to practice surgery, having become allergic to the new antiseptic replacing the carbolic acid he had introduced to Montreal, iodoform. He was instead given the position of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at 91社区 from 1901 to 1908, where he could contribute to medicine without practicing surgery. In subsequent years Roddick would play an instrumental role in the creation of the as well as establishing a common system of examinations for students graduating with medical degrees in Canada.

1894Royal Victoria Hospital (early photo)

Royal Victoria Hospital opens

The Royal Victoria Hospital was established in 1893 in the historic through donations by two public-spirited immigrants, the cousins , and .

The founders intended the Royal Vic "to be for the use of the sick and ailing without distinction of or ," and when it opened in 1893 it was hailed as the "finest and most perfectly equipped (hospital) on the great ".The hospital originally had 150 employees, including 14 .

1923

Edward Archibald

Edward Archibald appointed 1st chairman of the 91社区 Department of Surgery and established surgical research centre. Was President of the American Surgical Association in 1935.

1924St Mary's Hospital (1924)

St-Mary鈥檚 Hospital opens

St. Mary's Hospital was founded in 1924 by Sister Helen Morrissey and Dr. Donald A. Hingston. First a 45-bed institution located at Shaughnessy House (now the ) in the neighbourhood of , it has since moved to its current location in 1934 where it has 271 beds.

1934Jewish General Hospital

Jewish General Hospital opens

The Jewish General Hospital, was founded as a general hospital, open to all patients regardless of race, religion, language or ethnic background.

Among many other medical innovations, the JGH was one of the first hospitals in Canada to open a division of .

1946Arthur Vineberg

Arthur Vineberg, forerunner of coronary artery bypass grafting

Arthur Vineberg is known for having developed a surgical procedure called the "Vineberg Procedure" which involved implanting the left into the left of the .

1958Royal Victoria Hospital

First successful kidney transplant

First successful kidney transplant in commonwealth (between identical twins) performed at RVH by Dr. Joe Luke (vascular surgeon) and Dr. Ken MacKinnon (Chief of Urology).

To know more about kidney transplant at the MUHC nowadays:

1962LD MacLean

Dr. LD MacLean began his tenure as Surgeon-in-Chief at the Royal Victoria Hospital

Dr LD MacLean began his tenure as Surgeon-in-Chief at the RVH, a post he held until 1988. He was Chairman of the 91社区 Department of Surgery from 1968 to 1973, 1977 to 1982 and from 1987 to 1988. He was the Edward W. Archibald Professor, Department of Surgery, 91社区 from 1987-1993. He was also Surgeon-in-Chief at the Royal Victoria Hospital from 1962 to 1988.

Dr听LD听MacLean was a Professor of Surgery at 91社区 for more than a quarter of a century. During this time, he made significant contributions in the study of shock, peritonitis, host resistance, transplantation and extended our understanding of the effectiveness of surgery for obesity.

1971Dr Noelle Grace and infant

Dr. Noelle Grace. First female surgeon

鈥淪he has been a pioneer for women in Canadian medicine. After obtaining her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario and training at 91社区, she was the first women to graduate from General Surgery residency at the Montreal general Hospital. She then became the first female pediatric surgeon in our country鈥檚 history.

As a surgeon working primarily with young children and their families, Noelle set herself apart by demonstrating compassionate, child-centered care. She empathizes with her patients and their families, physically embracing children who need comfort, and making herself available outside of working hours to ensure that a child recovers from surgery.鈥


1990 Instruments of minimally invasive surgery

Minimal Invasive Surgery

First laparoscopic cholecystectomy ushers in the era of minimally invasive surgery

1997Logo of MUHC

Founding of the MUHC

Founding of the MUHC through merger of the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Children's Hospital, the Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute, and the Montreal Chest Institute

2015Glen site

Opening of the Glen site

The MUHC underwent an historic transformation and the biggest hospital move in Canadian history, when three of its founding hospitals (Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Children鈥檚 Hospital, and the Montreal Chest Institute) were transferred to a brand new healthcare complex located on the site of the former Glen rail yards in Notre Dame de Grace

2020Dr. Liane Feldman

Dr. Liane Feldman:听appointed first female Chair, Department of Surgery, 91社区 and Surgeon-in-Chief, MUHC

Dr Liane Feldman is the Edward W. Archibald Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at 91社区 and Surgeon-in-chief at the 91社区 Health Centre.

For complete biography please see the following link.

91社区

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