Phoenix Medical Museums Club

Lecture at The Gordon Museum, Guy's Hospital
6.30pm on Wednesday 21 November 2007

John Hunter, the once and future surgeon

Wendy Moore, author of the acclaimed new biography of John Hunter, will talk about the maverick 18th century surgeon's life, work and relevance today. From humble Scottish origins, John Hunter (1728-93) rose to become the most famous surgeon and anatomist of the Georgian age. Hunter treated the celebrities of his era, taught around 1,000 students (including many from Guy's) and unleashed a revolution in medicine which is still unrolling today.

Writer and journalist Wendy Moore has written extensively on health issues. She obtained the Diploma in the History of Medicine from the Society of Apothecaries in 1999 and won the Maccabean prize for the best dissertation of the year. Her biography, The Knife Man:  The Extraordinary Life and Times of John Hunter, Father of Modern Surgery was published by Bantam in 2005 and came out in paperback in 2006 as The Knife Man:  Blood, Body-Snatching and the Birth of Modern Surgery. The book won the Medical Journalist Association book prize in 2005 and was highly commended in the British Medical Association's Medical Book Competition the same year.

What the reviewers said:

'Medicine needs more John Hunters and biography needs more Wendy Moores' New York Times 

'An accomplished achievement and a splendid read' The Times

'Excellent' Guardian

'It's a winner all round - and now I've finished it, I'm going to start all over again.' Claire Rayner

This talk will be in the lecture theatre of the Gordon Museum, home to the countries largest pathology teaching collection, which is normally only accessible to medical professionals. The museum has a large and growing collection of approximately 8000 pathological specimens. The oldest specimen dates from 1608 and new specimens continue to be added. Those attending may arrive from 5.30pm onwards if they wish to spend some time looking at the museum collection beforehand.

Copies of the book will be available for sale, and Wendy will be pleased to sign them if required.

Please note that photography is not allowed. All those attending will be expected to make a donation of £5 to the museum funds.

To apply for a place at this lecture, contact Dennis Fullwood, by telephone on 020 8870 6355, or preferably by email at [log in to unmask]
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