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.
Career
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]
Publications
- The Making of a Surgeon. Mid List Press (1970, 1990) ISBN 0-922811-46-6
- A Surgeon's World. New York: Random House (1972) ISBN 0-394-46745-0
- Healing: A Doctor in Search of a Miracle. New York: Random House (1974) ISBN 0-394-49095-9
- Surgeon Under the Knife. Book World Promotions (1976) ISBN 0-698-10743-8
References
External links
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