- Thomas McCrae (physician)
Thomas McCrae (b. 1870 - d. 1935) was Professor of Medicine at
Jefferson Medical College , and student and later colleague of SirWilliam Osler . Often quoted in medical training for his remark "more is missed by not looking than not knowing [cite journal
last = Ronni
first = Wolf
year = 2006
title = "More is missed by not looking than by not knowing" [Thomas McCrae, 1870-1935]
journal = International Journal of Dermatology
volume = 45
issue = 1
pages = 50
doi = 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02623.x
format = full text] ".Early life and medical training
Thomas McCrae was born in Guelph,
Ontario ,Canada to Lieutenant-ColonelDavid McCrae and Janet Simpson Eckford McCrae. His brother,John McCrae is best known for authoring "In Flanders Fields " [ [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/mccrae Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae - Veterans Affairs Canada ] at www.vac-acc.gc.ca]McCrae trained in medicine at the
University of Toronto , obtaining his Doctorate of Medicine in 1903. [ [http://www.health.library.mcgill.ca/osler/archives/detail.cfm?FondID=60 Fonds Level Description - Osler Library Archives - Osler Library of the History of Medicine ] at www.health.library.mcgill.ca]He became an assistant resident at
Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1895 inBaltimore , Maryland and was later joined by his brother in 1899. It was there that he became associated with Dr William Osler (later Sir William) who was the "pre-eminent medical educator of his time". [ [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/mccrae/earlyyears The Early Years - Veterans Affairs Canada ] at www.vac-acc.gc.ca] [ [http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/albumsph.htm The Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives - Photograph Collection - Albums ] at www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu]McCrae's association with Osler continued with their collaboration in "
The Principles and Practice of Medicine ", an authoritative medical text at the time. McCrae was initially assistant editor, but later became the editor of this text upon Osler's death. [ [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1561285&pageindex=2#page Thomas McCrae ] at www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov]Later career
In 1912 he became Professor of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.
"In 1924, he was
Lumleian lecturer at theRoyal College of Physicians inLondon . He was chairman of the Section on Practice of Medicine of theAmerican Medical Association , 1914-1915. From 1916 to 1925 he was secretary of theAssociation of American Physicians and in 1930 its president." [ [http://www.health.library.mcgill.ca/osler/archives/detail.cfm?FondID=60 Fonds Level Description - Osler Library Archives - Osler Library of the History of Medicine ] at www.health.library.mcgill.ca]McCrae died in 1935 with no children to survive him. He is described in an obituary in the
Canadian Medical Association Journal as a "deep student, a fine clinician, (and) a great teacher". [ [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1561285&pageindex=2#page Thomas McCrae ] at www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov]References
Wolf R, Orion E, Marcos B, Matz H, "More is missed by not looking than not knowing" in "International Journal of Dermatology" 2006, 40, 50. [http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02623.x]
"Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae" on "Veterans' Affairs Canada" [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/mccrae]
Box 149 and 151 Photograph Albums in "The Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions" [http://www.medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/albumsph.htm]
"Thomas McCrae" in "Can Med Assoc J." 1935 August; 33(2): 190–191. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pagerender.fcgi?artid=1561285&pageindex=2#page]
"Thomas McCrae Fonds" in the "Osler Library Archive Collections" [http://www.health.library.mcgill.ca/osler/archives/detail.cfm?FondID=60]
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