The Road to Modern Surgery: A Historical Journey Through Surgical Landmarks

This book traces the millennia-long journey of surgical advances, from obsidian stone incisions to modern tools and personalized medicine. It focuses on key developments, influential figures, and social contexts that have definitively changed surgical practice. Topics covered include human anatomy, physiology, pathology, surgical techniques, and tools, as well as major medical advances such as antibiotics, imaging, and immunosuppressants. It avoids the overwhelming detail found in other surgical history books but illustrates the remarkable evolution of medicine and surgery throughout history, from the ancient civilizations of Sumer and Egypt to the cutting-edge technologies of the 21st century. The book offers 5 major parts arranged around a timeline of major breakthroughs and epochs.This book is an essential read for medical students, surgeons, doctors, nurses, and anyone curious about the history of medicine. It provides a concise yet comprehensive overview, avoiding the overwhelming detail of other surgical history books, and offers insights into the trials, errors, and triumphs that have shaped modern surgery. By understanding the past, readers can appreciate the present and anticipate the future of surgical innovation.

About the Author

Prof Saleh Abbas MD FRACS FACS studied medicine at Baghdad University, graduating in 1987. He is currently consultant surgeon and A/ Prof in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, at University Hospital Geelong and Deakin University, Australia. Trained as General Surgeon in Auckland, New Zealand (FRACS), where he also gained a doctoral degree (MD) before sub-specialising in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery in Sydney, Australia. He has published more than 30 research papers in peer reviewed journals such as the British Journal of Surgery and Cochrane library, in addition to presentations at international surgical conferences. He has supervised two master’s degrees in surgery, and is heavily engaged in training the next generation of surgeons as a supervisor of training, accredited by the Royal Australian college of Surgeons.

Professor David Watters, AM, OBE, ChM FRCSEd, FCOSECSA FRACS. David Watters is Distinguished Professor of Surgery at Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He is also Director of Surgery at Safer Care Victoria (SCV) and has just finished a two year role in leading the Perioperative Learning Health Network supporting the Victorian Surgical Recovery and Reform Process post pandemic. He is committed to improving perioperative care before, during and after surgery and is keen to support all disciplines involved across the patient journey. He has published over 250 papers and co-authored 7 books including two on Surgical History.

At the University Hospital Geelong, he specialises in general, colorectal and endocrine surgery. He is a Past President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2015- 2016), having spent nine years on their Council from 2007.  In 2022, he completed a three-year term as Chair of the inaugural Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council (2019 -2022). Internationally, he is also actively engaged in advocating for universal access to safe, affordable and timely surgery having worked previously in South Africa, Zambia, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.