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Founding chair of surgery pens One Life, Many Deaths: A Surgeon’s Stories

H. Brownell Wheeler, MD, will discuss and sign new book Oct. 15

  H. Brownell “Brownie” Wheeler, MD
  H. Brownell “Brownie” Wheeler, MD

The Worcester District Medical SocietyandThe Humanities in Medicine Committee of the Lamar Soutter Library present H. Brownell “Brownie” Wheeler, MD, who will read passages and sign copies of his new book One Life, Many Deaths: A Surgeon’s Stories at UMass Medical School on Wednesday, Oct. 15. 

A 1952 graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Wheeler, the Harry M. Haidak Distinguished Professor of Surgery emeritus and founding chair of the Department of Surgery at UMass Medical School, is a renowned vascular surgeon, educator, administrator, inventor and end-of-life care advocate. Recruited as the founding chair of the UMMS Department of Surgery in 1971, he served in this position for the next 25 years. At the 2014 Commencement, Wheeler became the first UMMS faculty member to receive an honorary degree.

Now in retirement, having devoted the last part of his career to improving end-of- life care, Wheeler drew on a lifetime of experiences in the operating room and at the bedside to write One Life, Many DeathsA Surgeon’s Stories.

The reception and book signings will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the new Medical School lobby, followed by readings in the Faculty Conference Room at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with copies of the book available for purchase.