Father of modern medicine
SIR WILLIAM OSLER was born in Bond Head in Canada West on July 12, 1849, and lived in numerous places throughout his life. But people around here are quick to point out that he grew up in Dundas.
Significance
OSLER IS RECOGNIZED as “the father of modern medicine” and many say Osler was the most important citizen to ever reside in the area. Osler argued that doctors should take a more humanistic approach to medical care, rather than simply focusing on cold, hard science. He created the first residency program for specialty training of physicians, and was the first to bring medical students out of the lecture hall for bedside clinical training.
Sir William Osler 1849-1919
OSLER (pronounced Oh-zler), was a physician, educator, medical philosopher, bibliophile and historian.
He was the eighth of nine children. He moved to Dundas as a young boy and lived there until his late teens, when he went off to Toronto to study theology and then switched his studies to medicine.
Later, he became one of the four founding professors of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, and distinguished himself with his 1892 medical textbook, “The Principles and Practice of Medicine.” It became the standard text for generations of doctors.
Close call
WHEN OSLER WAS A BOY, his family was planning to relocate to Dundas. But their travel arrangements on March 12, 1857, had to be cancelled because it’s said William was sick with croup. That train collapsed on the canal bridge near Dundas, killing 59 people in what became known as the Desjardins Canal Rail Disaster.
The Osler name in Hamilton
Osler House, 30 South St. in Dundas, is a bed-andbreakfast operating in the house where he grew up.
Osler Drive is a stretch of road between Main Street in Hamilton and Main Street in Dundas.
Osler Court runs off Osler Drive. Sir William Osler Elementary School is on Governors Road in Dundas.
Osler Cairn is at Union Cemetery in Dundas, where a plaque will be located. Osler’s ashes rest in a niche in the Osler Library at McGill University.