Allen Buckner Kanavel: Surgical proteus and founder of hand surgery.

Abstract

Allen Kanavel possessed a protean skill set, excelling as an anatomist, clinical surgeon, surgical leader, surgical educator and surgical investigator. His investigations led to the foundation of a new surgical specialty, that of surgery of the hand. Additionally, he was a prolific author (>80 scientific articles, seven editions of his textbook Infections of the Hand). He also served as Chairman of Surgery at Northwestern University, President of the American College of Surgeons, of which he was a founding member, and he was also a charter member of the Society of Neurological Surgeons. In addition, he was a kind and humble person, and a devoted husband and father.