William Stevenson Baer

Background

Baer was born on November 25, 1872, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Education

Baer graduated with the degrees of A. B. in 1894 and M. D. in 1898 at the Johns Hopkins University.

Career

Subsequently he served as one of the house medical officers for a year, and a second year as assistant resident surgeon at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Then he became interested in orthopedic surgery and served continuously in that department of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical School from 1900 until his death thirty-one years later, being placed in charge of the orthopedic work there in 1900 when the Orthopedic Clinic was instituted. After a year as assistant in orthopedic surgery (1900 - 01), he became instructor (1901 - 05), associate (1905 - 10), associate professor (1910 - 14), and from 1914 to 1926 associate professor of clinical orthopedic surgery.

In the latter year he became full clinical professor of orthopedic surgery and held that position until his death five years later. In addition to this work at the Johns Hopkins Hospital he had a large private practice as an orthopedic surgeon and was a consultant in that specialty in a number of other hospitals in Maryland. In 1909 he founded the Children's Hospital School and continued as its director during the remainder of his life, developing it into one of the largest and best equipped hospitals for crippled children in the South.

In 1927 he founded the Maryland League for Crippled Children and continued as its president until his death. At the outbreak of the First World War he went to France as captain in the Johns Hopkins Unit, Medical Reserve Corps, United States army, and for several months served as chief of the American operating team at Chemin des Dames. Later he was made orthopedic consultant to the American Expeditionary Force, serving as orthopedic surgeon-in-chief of the II American Army. He returned to civil life in April 1919, being mustered out as lieutenant-colonel.

aer also attracted considerable favorable attention by his operation for restoring motion in fused and stiffened joints by the introduction of animal membrane. In 1935 through his efforts there was established in Baltimore the William S. Baer School for Crippled and Handicapped Children, where those so afflicted received medical attention as well as special training and recreational activities in addition to their regular school work. He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member and president (1924 - 25) of the American Orthopedic Association. In imparting knowledge he was most successful, and he gained a great reputation for his keen diagnostic ability in his special field. His concept of the newer orthopedic surgery was characterized by his ideas of a broader scope in this specialty, and through his sound suggestions and rational ideas he became a valuable critic of its many new advances.

Achievements

• He developed a range of clinics throughout the rural sections of Maryland, to which parents were invited to bring their crippled children for diagnosis and treatment free of cost. He made many contributions to orthopedic surgery, among which may be mentioned his rediscovery that the larv' of the bluebottle fly could be used to cure osteomyelitis. In 1942, his name was placed on one of 2700 “Liberty Ships, ” which were cargo steamers built rapidly and cheaply to supply the U. S. effort in World War II.

Works

• book

  • Osteomyelitis Hearings Before the Committee on World War Veterans' Legislation

Connections

He was married at New Haven, Connecticut, on October 15, 1901, to Ruth, the daughter of the John Edward Adams, a Methodist clergyman. They had no children.

Father:

Robert Newton Baer

Mother:

Mary Baer

Wife:

Ruth Adams

References

• William Stevenson Baer: A Monograph