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Some Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) come from families with three or four generations of surgeons. A number of these family members go back more than 100 years
to the founding of the ACS. Their stories, several of which are featured here, are a testament to the fact that the pursuit of surgical
excellence often passes from one generation to the next.
ACS founder
One family of surgeons that includes an ACS founder is the Richter
family of Chicago, IL. Three generations of the family have dedicated their lives to surgical practice. Harry M. Richter III, MD,
FACS, Rush University Medical Center, acknowledges the vital
role his grandfather, H. M. Richter, MD, FACS, played in 1913 as
a College founder and Governor (1913−1916).
“My grandfather was attuned to the need for surgical standards
in his time,” said Dr. Richter III, who remembers his grandfa-
ther as a tall, lean, imposing figure who was deeply dedicated to
his profession and patients. His grandfather had a sterling repu-
tation as a specialist in thyroid procedures and surgical care of
infants. “Before there was a College, surgeons were on their own,”
Dr. Richter said. “The College founders realized that they needed
some behavioral guidelines.”
Dr. Richter’s father, Harry M. Richter, Jr., MD, FACS, a member
of the department of surgery, Northwestern University Medical
School, and surgeon at Cook County Hospital, was a role model
for his son. “What impressed me as a child about my dad’s work
at Cook County was that patients would come off the street with
medical problems, having not seen a primary care doctor, and
they would get treated, whether they had money or not. That has
always been the role of Cook County,” he said.
“My dad never directed me to go a certain way,” the younger
Dr. Richter said. “He just tried to influence me to make wise,
practical choices in life.” He considered other careers in math
and science, but found surgery was the best fit. In high school, he
accompanied his father to surgical society meetings and spent a
couple of summers doing research at Chicago’s former Michael
Three generations of Harry Richter, MDs.
The infant, Dr. Harry Richter III, is flanked
at left by his father Dr. Harry Richter, Jr.,
and his grandfather, Dr. Harry Richter, Sr.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Describes families with
generations of practicing
surgeons and the shared and
unique challenges physicians
of different eras have faced
• Chronicles the lives of
two families who are
descendants of the original
founders of the College
• Highlights the benefits
of surgical mentorship,
particularly from a parent
or close relative
