William A. Nolen (March 20, 1928 – December 20, 1986) was a surgeon and author who resided in Litchfield, Minnesota. He wrote a syndicated medical advice column that appeared in McCall's magazine for many years, and was the author of several books. [1] He died on December 20, 1986, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center from heart disease.
Nolen's best known book is The Making of a Surgeon, which continues to be a popular (though now dated) narrative about his experiences as an intern and resident surgeon-in-training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. [2] Many students contemplating medical school find that it guides their decision.[ citation needed]
Nolen conducted research at a 1967 Kathryn Kuhlman fellowship in Philadelphia, with 23 people who claimed to have been cured during her services. [3] [4] [5] [6] Nolen's long term follow-ups concluded there were no cures in those cases. [7] [8] Furthermore, "one woman who was said to have been cured of spinal cancer threw away her brace and ran across the stage at Kuhlman's command; her spine collapsed the next day, according to Nolen, and she died four months later." [9]
Nolen is also known for his book Healing: A Doctor in Search of a Miracle (1974). He spent two years examining faith healers and concluded that no patients with organic disease had been cured. [10] He investigated psychic surgery and discovered it was based on sleight of hand trickery. [11] He uncovered many cases of fraud. [12]
William A. Nolen (March 20, 1928 – December 20, 1986) was a surgeon and author who resided in Litchfield, Minnesota. He wrote a syndicated medical advice column that appeared in McCall's magazine for many years, and was the author of several books. [1] He died on December 20, 1986, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center from heart disease.
Nolen's best known book is The Making of a Surgeon, which continues to be a popular (though now dated) narrative about his experiences as an intern and resident surgeon-in-training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. [2] Many students contemplating medical school find that it guides their decision.[ citation needed]
Nolen conducted research at a 1967 Kathryn Kuhlman fellowship in Philadelphia, with 23 people who claimed to have been cured during her services. [3] [4] [5] [6] Nolen's long term follow-ups concluded there were no cures in those cases. [7] [8] Furthermore, "one woman who was said to have been cured of spinal cancer threw away her brace and ran across the stage at Kuhlman's command; her spine collapsed the next day, according to Nolen, and she died four months later." [9]
Nolen is also known for his book Healing: A Doctor in Search of a Miracle (1974). He spent two years examining faith healers and concluded that no patients with organic disease had been cured. [10] He investigated psychic surgery and discovered it was based on sleight of hand trickery. [11] He uncovered many cases of fraud. [12]