Greetings UW Surgery Alumni

Dr. Henry Harkins

Henry N. Harkins, MD (1905–1967) was an internationally respected surgeon, scientist, educator, and the founding Chair of the University of Washington DoS. His vision, leadership, and commitment to academic excellence helped shape both the DoS and the newly established UW School of Medicine during its formative years.

Born in Missoula, Montana, and raised in Chicago, Dr. Harkins developed a strong scientific foundation early in his career. He earned both a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago before pursuing medicine at Rush Medical College. This unique combination of scientific and medical training influenced his lifelong approach to surgery, emphasizing rigorous investigation, innovation, and evidence-based practice.

Before joining the University of Washington, Dr. Harkins served as an Instructor in Surgery at Wayne State University and later as Associate Professor of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. In 1947, he was recruited to Seattle as Professor of Surgery and became the first Chair of the DoS and the first chair appointed to a clinical department within the new UW School of Medicine. Beyond leading the Department, he played a critical role in recruiting faculty, developing curricula, establishing research programs, and helping define the school’s place within the medical community.

A prolific researcher and scholar, Dr. Harkins authored more than 360 scientific publications on subjects including burns, shock, groin hernias, gastric physiology, peptic ulcer disease, selective vagotomy, the Billroth I operation, and surgical education. His work contributed to major advances in gastrointestinal surgery and improved understanding of the physiological responses to surgical disease and injury. Throughout his career, he championed the integration of scientific inquiry and clinical practice, helping to establish the model of the modern academic surgeon.

The photo was taken at Denny Park on Lake Washington. Dr. Harkins pats Dr. John Stevenson on the back at the Department picnic. Later that day, Dr. Harkins suffered a fatal MI as he walked up the beach after getting up on a slalom water ski for the first time. The slalom water ski was one of his long-held goals.

Dr. Harkins was equally influential as a leader in surgical publishing. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Quarterly Review of Surgery—later renamed the Review of Surgery—from 1943 until 1967. He also served on the editorial boards of Annals of Surgery and The Western Journal of Surgery. Through these roles, he helped disseminate emerging surgical knowledge and influenced the direction of surgical research and education worldwide.

His scholarly reputation extended well beyond the United States. Following his second John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in Surgery, Dr. Harkins undertook an extensive international teaching tour from 1965 to 1966, serving as a visiting professor at leading institutions throughout Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Sweden. His contributions to global surgical education were recognized by numerous professional societies, including the Swedish Surgical Society, which honored him as the Acrel Medalist.

Known for his intellectual curiosity, generosity as a mentor, and dedication to surgical education, Dr. Harkins inspired generations of surgeons. He embodied the ideals of the academic surgeon—teacher, investigator, scholar, and clinician—and his influence continues to be felt throughout the DoS and the broader surgical community. The Henry Harkins Surgical Society stands as a lasting tribute to his legacy and the values he championed throughout his distinguished career.