05/13/2026
Thinking about our 150th year as the drivers of organized medicine in Memphis and the Mid-South, we often find ourselves deep in historical literature about our city. This excerpt comes from the book ‘History of Medicine in Memphis’ which was published in 1969, edited by Drs. Marcus Stewart and William Black, Jr., and co-edited by Mildred Hicks:
“Some of the city’s first reluctant steps in public health were taken to protect the population against diseases ‘induced by a large floating population, the migratory carriers of any infectious diseases which might exist in the country. Among these river-linked diseases were cholera, smallpox, and yellow fever. There were also recurring fevers, such as dengue and malaria, that were associated with the ‘sickly season’ in July and August, and there were insanitary conditions that plagued Memphis along with most towns and cities during the 19th Century.'”
In every era, physicians have shaped our city with their expertise and compassion, and we're proud to play a role in shaping that landscape.
