April 5, 2000. From traumatic injuries and widespread infection to epidemics and hygiene, the American Civil War was the spawning ground for a number of modern medical practices. One hundred fifty-five physicians from Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, and Louisiana gathered in Roanoke recently to examine the influence of the mid-1800s conflict on their profession.
They were participants in the First Annual Civil War Medical Symposium, organized by Virginia Tech's Virginia Center for Civil War Studies under an educational grant from Merck & Company. The symposium was approved by the American Academy of Family Physicians for elective credit hours and by the Lewis-Gale Foundation CME Organization for continuing medical education credit.
"Learning from the past is the key to understanding the present and anticipating the future. That is as true for medicine as for all fields of study," said James I. Robertson, Jr., Alumni Distinguished Professor of history and director of the Civil War center.
Robertson, a nationally noted Civil War historian, delivered the opening presentation, "Civil War Medicine: An Overview," at the two-day event. Four physicians talked about specific medical advances resulting from the war: Dr. Donald Zedalis, a Christiansburg physician who specializes in allergy/immunology and sleep disorders; Dr. John M. Gregg, an oral/maxillofacial surgeon in Blacksburg; Dr. Charles L. Cooke,, a rheumatoid-arthritis specialist with the McGuire Medical Group in Richmond; and Dr. E. Randolph Trice, a retired Richmond dermatologist.
Participants to the event, which was held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, were welcomed by Tech President Charles W. Steger.
