USU School of Medicine Dean Adds Modern Commentary to New Edition of Edward D. Churchill’s Surgeon to Soldiers

The influential wartime memoir, Surgeon to Soldiers: Diary and Records of the Surgical Consultant, Allied Force Headquarters, World War II, written by Dr. Edward D. Churchill, has been republished with insightful commentary from Dr. Eric Elster.

The updated edition of "Surgeons to Soldiers" celebrates the legacy of Churchill’s work,

emphasizing the timeless importance of knowledge-sharing and strategic partnerships

among military surgeons. (U.S. Army photo)

November 5, 2024 by Claire Pak

The influential wartime memoir, Surgeon to Soldiers: Diary and Records of the Surgical Consultant, Allied Force Headquarters, World War II, written by Dr. Edward D. Churchill, has been republished with insightful commentary from Dr. Eric Elster, dean of the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine, and Dr. Jeremy Cannon, professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. The 2024 edition sheds new light on Churchill’s contributions to wartime medicine and offers a modern perspective on the experiences and lessons documented during World War II.

USU School of Medicine Dean
Dr. Eric Elster displays the new
edition of Edward D. Churchill’s
Surgeon to Soldiers, for which he
served as a commentary editor.
(Photo courtesy of Dr. Eric Elster)

Churchill, a world-renowned thoracic surgeon, served as the chief surgical consultant for the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean, where he played a crucial role in advancing trauma care in combat zones. His memoir offers an invaluable look into the challenges, innovations, and camaraderie that defined military surgery during one of history’s most significant conflicts. Churchill’s pioneering work and advocacy for collaboration led to the founding, by himself and Dr. Michael DeBakey, of the Excelsior Surgical Society, an organization initially established for WWII surgeons and has since inspired a contemporary military surgical society by the same name.

Churchill was a professor of Surgery at Harvard, a senior surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and a long-time editor of the journal Annals of Surgery. He published Surgeons to Soldiers not long before his death in 1972.

Elster’s added commentary highlights the enduring relevance of Churchill’s insights and innovations in today’s military medicine. “A brilliant surgeon and teacher, Dr. Churchill understood the importance of connection and networking for military surgeons, knowing that collaboration is vital to the constantly evolving art and science of surgery in combat,” writes Elster. “Dr. Cannon and I are honored to continue his legacy and delighted to share this seminal work with a new audience.”

This updated edition celebrates the legacy of Churchill’s work, emphasizing the timeless importance of knowledge-sharing and strategic partnerships among military surgeons. With the inclusion of modern-day insights, the book serves as both a historical account and a valuable resource for current and future military medical professionals.