A Brief Overview of the Life and Work of Thomas Aloysius Shallow, MD, LLD (1886-1955): The Boss

The life of Dr Thomas Aloysius Shallow demonstrates the life of a surgeon dedicated to the advancement of the fields of general surgery and civic service to the city of Philadelphia. Born in Philadelphia in 1886 and passing away in 1955, Dr Shallow advanced the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery to new heights and served as a general surgeon and neurosurgeon in surrounding Philadelphia hospitals. A veteran of the United States Medical Corps in World War I, Dr Shallow quickly established himself in the world of academic medicine, earning the second esteemed Samuel D. Gross Professorship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, becoming a founding member of the American Board of Surgery, and serving as the president of the United States chapter of the International College of Surgeons. His one-stage pharyngeal diverticulectomy is the technical focus of this paper; however his contributions to the field of surgery, medical education, and the city of Philadelphia are highlighted to discuss the life of a prominent figure in American surgical history.