Dr. Lewis Albert Sayre (1820-1900) was one of the founders of Bellevue Hospital Medical College and the first Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the United States. His treatments for musculoskeletal conditions such as morbus coxarius (hip disease), talipes (clubfoot), and lateral curvature (scoliosis) transformed the field of orthopedic medicine. While many of his peers preferred less bodily invasive medical techniques, Sayre treated his patients with innovative surgeries, splints, and Plaster of Paris jackets. He also advocated for physical therapy and exercise as treatments for musculoskeletal conditions. Today, Sayre is considered a trailblazer in both the field of orthopedic surgery and the development of the modern American medical profession.
As part of his medical practice, Sayre kept detailed casebooks filled with patient case histories, treatment notes, correspondence, drawings, and photographs. These casebooks and other materials from Sayre's life and work are now in the collections of the Lillian & Clarence de la Chapelle Medical Archives and the New York Academy of Medicine Library.
Image: Dr. Lewis Albert Sayre. Historic images collection, Lillian & Clarence de la Chapelle Medical Archives.