title: A history of Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' hospitals from 1649 to 2009: 360 years of innovation in science and surgery.
abstract: Much has been achieved in the scientific and surgical fields over the last 360 years. Some institutions have contributed disproportionately to these advances. The medical schools and hospitals of Guy's (est. 1721), King's (est. 1840) and St. Thomas' (est. 1173) seem to provide a focus and a catalyst for much innovation and creativity dating back to 1608. This review sets to provide an overview of the major contributors to surgical advances at these institutions over the last 360 years and what factors affected unique to these institutions contributed to the climate of discovery. It is based on a lecture given to the Osler Club of London (est. 1928) at the Royal College of Physicians in London on 4 November 2010. It is the author's premise that the people and the discoveries they made within these institutions within three square miles of London changed the practice and understanding of science and healthcare as we know it today.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ashford and St. Peter's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK. mail@riazagha.com
authors.forename: Riaz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agha
authors.forename: Maliha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agha
mesh_terms: D004813:Epidemiology / Q000266:history; D013502:General Surgery / Q000266:history*; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006761:Hospitals / Q000266:history*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000266:history; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012586:Science / Q000266:history*