It is not widely known that despite his skepticism about specialization, Sir William Osler (1848--1919), often referred to as the “Father of American Medicine,” made substantial contributions to pediatrics. About 10% of Osler's large bibliography pertained to pediatric topics. In this study I will review: 1) some of Osler's pediatric writings, 2) his role in the growth of American pediatrics, and 3) his rolemodeling personality in treating children. Osler's pediatric writings can be grouped into: 1) bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, smallpox, and syphilis; 2) “Nervous Diseases” such as convulsions, dystrophies, and cerebral palsy; and 3) miscellaneous topics such as rheumatic heart disease, cretinism, megacolon, croup and cirrhosis. I will contrast Osler's insights into some of these topics with those of other leading pediatricians of the time, such as Abraham Jacobi, Thomas Morgan Rotch and L. Emmett Holt. Osler was one of 14 physicians invited by Job Lewis Smith of New York to a meeting on September 18, 1888 in Washington, D.C., to 'effect the formation of the American Pediatric Society'(APS). This was done, and within two hours the first APS articles of constitution were drafted. Osler's role in drafting these documents remains unclear, but he is listed in the roaster of 43 founding APS members made on that day. Osler remained active in the APS, becoming its fourth president. In his APS presidential address of 1892 titled “Remarks on Specialism”, he noted the “extraordinary development of modern medicine” as a justification for pediatric specialty, but stressed that the physician should apply his knowledge “to the whole body, and try to treat...the whole and the parts together.” Noting pediatrics as the last specialty to separate from general medicine he sadly reflected that this was“not because of any extreme of differentiation, but rather because the pediatrician is the vestigial remnant of what was formerly the general practitioner.” Osler helped William Booker to become the first Clinical Professor of Diseases of Children at Johns Hopkins University in 1896, but pediatrics was a sub-department of medicine of which Osler was the head. As physician, Osler was extremely affectionate and his mercurial personality was endearing to all of his pediatric patients. I will present some of Osler's famous anecdotes while treating children and discuss his role in shaping the growth of American pediatrics.
