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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2008; 14(2): 174-175
Published online Jan 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.174
Published online Jan 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.174
The spirit of Henry Norman Bethune and gastroenterology
Hugh J Freeman, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Correspondence to: Dr. Hugh Freeman, MD, CM, FRCPC, FACP, UBC Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1W5, British Columbia, Canada. hugfree@shaw.ca
Telephone: +1-604-8227216
Fax: +1-604-8227236
Received: October 23, 2007
Revised: December 7, 2007
Published online: January 14, 2008
Revised: December 7, 2007
Published online: January 14, 2008
Abstract
Henry Norman Bethune was a physician and surgeon from Canada. He had a highly impressive medical career in Montreal but did his most important work in China where he cared for soldiers on the battlefield. He died in 1939 and was recognized as a hero, but only much later received recognition in Canada. He was a skilled doctor, both as a physician and as a surgeon. However, he was much more and will serve as an inspiration for this series. He was an innovator, an idealist and a perfectionist. It is hoped that this series will gather expert commentaries on a range of issues critical to the subspecialty from fundamental science to clinical care so that future directions can be defined.
Keywords: Bethune, Gastroenterology, China, Canada, Battlefield surgery