Victor Almon McKusick (21 October 1921-22 July 2008): Philosophical approach and historiography.

Abstract

While many authors have surveyed the contributions of Victor Almon McKusick, MD (21 October 1921-22 July 2008) to establishing the field of medical genetics, no authors have reviewed his significant contributions as an historian to the field of the history of medicine. In discussing relevant biographical themes and their functional influence in his life, his philosophical approach to the study of the history of medicine and his unique historiography, blending various major schools of thought into a hybrid analytical approach to historical research, was evaluated. The evaluation drew on a series of interviews conducted with McKusick in 2004 and 2005, review of a selection of his published historical contributions, and review of secondary sources.