On the shoulders of mortals

Abstract

l a d “On the shoulders of giants” is a familiar phrase to ll of us, especially because it was the theme of the 003 annual ASSH Meeting in Chicago. My title akes a slightly different slant. “Shoulders of Morals” is about how we teach, and how we learn. Some years ago, the eminent past president of the SSH Dr. Joseph Boyes, wrote a book On the Shoulers of Giants, about the history of hand surgery. He orrowed his title from a quote attributed to Sir Isaac ewton, who is alleged to have said—about 300 ears ago—“If I have seen further . . . it is by standng on the shoulders of giants.” There is no question hat the inventions and discoveries and ideas of great inds such as Einstein and Pasteur are what propel ivilization forward, and certainly it is on the shoulers of these giants upon which all of us stand. But I submit to you that the shoulders of mortals re more important to our students. By mortals I ean us—ordinary people who happen to be in the usiness of teaching. It is our shoulders upon which ur students need to stand to see farther. In this presentation I use the terms teacher and tudent in their broadest, most generic sense. We are ll teachers. We are all students. We all need to help thers. We all need help. Some of you are official, or titled, teachers: Deartmental Chairperson or Fellowship Director or therwise in fullor part-time academic jobs. Most of ou are in private practice and have minimal or no ontact with fellows or residents, but you still are urrounded by people who look to you for guidance