William A. Nolen
Encyclopedia
William A. Nolen, M.D. was a retired surgeon
and author
who resided in Litchfield, Minnesota
. He wrote a syndicated medical advice column that appeared in McCall's
magazine
for many years, and was the author of several books. He died on December 20, 1986, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center
from heart disease
.
His best known book is The Making of a Surgeon, which continues to be a popular (though now dated) narrative about his experiences as an intern
and resident
surgeon-in-training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City
. Many students contemplating medical school find that it guides their decision.
He also wrote Surgeon Under the Knife and eight other books.
Nolen conducted research at a 1967 Kathryn Kuhlman
fellowship in Philadelphia, with 23 people who claimed to have been cured during her services. Nolen's long term follow-ups concluded there were no cures in those cases. Furthermore, "one woman who was said to have been cured of spinal cancer threw away her brace and ran across the stage at Kuhlman's command; her spine collapsed the next day, according to Nolen, and she died four months later."
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
who resided in Litchfield, Minnesota
Litchfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,562 people, 2,624 households, and 1,653 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,748.4 people per square mile . There were 2,741 housing units at an average density of 730.3 per square mile...
. He wrote a syndicated medical advice column that appeared in McCall's
McCall's
McCall's was a monthly American women's magazine that enjoyed great popularity through much of the 20th century, peaking at a readership of 8.4 million in the early 1960s. It was established as a small-format magazine called The Queen in 1873...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
for many years, and was the author of several books. He died on December 20, 1986, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center
University of Minnesota Medical Center
The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview is the main university hospital for the University of Minnesota Medical School. There are two campuses: one located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River, known as the University Campus, and the other located on the West Bank, known as the...
from heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
.
His best known book is The Making of a Surgeon, which continues to be a popular (though now dated) narrative about his experiences as an intern
Medical intern
A medical intern is a term used in the United States for a physician in training who has completed medical school. An intern has a medical degree, but does not have a full license to practice medicine unsupervised...
and resident
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
surgeon-in-training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Many students contemplating medical school find that it guides their decision.
He also wrote Surgeon Under the Knife and eight other books.
Nolen conducted research at a 1967 Kathryn Kuhlman
Kathryn Kuhlman
Kathryn Johanna Kuhlman was an American faith healer and evangelist.-Early life:Kathryn Johanna Kuhlman was born in Concordia, Missouri, to German-American parents...
fellowship in Philadelphia, with 23 people who claimed to have been cured during her services. Nolen's long term follow-ups concluded there were no cures in those cases. Furthermore, "one woman who was said to have been cured of spinal cancer threw away her brace and ran across the stage at Kuhlman's command; her spine collapsed the next day, according to Nolen, and she died four months later."
Books
- William Nolen, Healing: a doctor in search of a miracle. New York: Random House ISBN 0394490959
- William Nolen, The Making of a Surgeon. Mid List Press (May 1, 1999) ISBN 0922811466
- William Nolen, Surgeon Under the Knife. Book World Promotions (May 1976) ISBN 0698107438
- William Nolen, A Surgeon's World.New York: Random House (November 1972)ISBN 0394467450
External links
- William Nolen Biography from Mid List Press