title: Samuel Robinson, pioneer thoracic surgeon (1875-1947).
abstract: Sam Robinson was born in Augusta, ME, in 1875. A graduate of Harvard Medical School, and of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), he worked in the laboratory of Walter Cannon. While a junior at MGH he spent four months abroad with Ferdinand Sauerbruch. He returned to Boston and remained there until 1912, performing his first successful lobectomy for bronchiectasis in 1909. He made important contributions to the management of pneumothorax during operation, notably Sam Robinson's box. In 1912 he moved to Clifton Springs, NY. From 1915 to 1917 he was the first Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Illness, probably bronchiectasis, led him to abandon academic thoracic surgery in 1918 and retire to Santa Barbara, CA, where he practiced general surgery until 1947. He was President of the Association for Thoracic Surgery in 1922. In addition to the use of positive pressure and early resections, his contributions include artificial pneumothorax for tuberculosis and management of acute and chronic empyema. His colorful writings provide a vivid picture of the early days of our specialty.
mesh_terms: D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000266:history / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage / Q000266:history; D004653:Empyema / Q000266:history / Q000601:surgery; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D011031:Pneumothorax, Artificial / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000266:history*