Harvey Cushing: Surgeries and Successes

Without the extraordinary achievements of Harvey Cushing, the field of neurosurgery would be nowhere near as advanced as it is today. Cushing, born on April 8th, 1869, is now commonly known as the father of neurosurgery. He studied medicine at prestigious universities, including Yale, Harvard (where he received his degree in medicine), and Johns Hopkins University. Once he completed the lengthy journey to becoming a surgeon, he began making numerous discoveries that would revolutionize medicine forever.

Cushing first began his career in 1899 at Johns Hopkins University, working in private practice. Shortly after beginning his career, Cushing discovered a biological phenomenon known as the “Cushing Reflex,” named after Cushing himself. The Cushing Reflex is the body’s response to ICP (increased intracranial pressure), which refers to a dangerously high level of pressure in the skull. A Cushing Reflex may result in death in a matter of minutes or even seconds, highlighting how crucial this discovery was. Although the discovery of the Cushing Reflex was not entirely original, as researchers had previously known about this reaction in the brain, Cushing’s findings were still crucial, as he was able to identify key details of the reaction, such as its stages and specific timings.

Cushing is not exclusively known for his advancements in medicine and neurosurgery. In 1926, he earned a Pulitzer Prize for writing a biography detailing the life of Sir William Osler, a well-known physician whom Cushing personally knew. When World War I had broken out years prior, Cushing had treated Osler’s son. Cushing’s biography soon became a respected classic. His discoveries certainly did not end here, however. In 1932, he discovered Cushing's Syndrome, which occurs when the body is exposed to excess levels of cortisol. This leads to numerous symptoms such as weak bones/muscles, weight gain, and high blood pressure. This key discovery helped doctors treat and manage this condition, helping millions across the globe.

Cushing retired from his career in 1932. A year later, he became the Professor of Medicine in Neurology at Yale University. From 1934 to 1938, Cushing, working alongside Dr. Louise Eisenhardt, began collecting complete records for all patients for whom he had a sample. Using this information, he was able to complete and publish his book series centered around brain tumors. Cushing then began working on building a new library at Yale to be used by medical staff and students.

On October 7th, 1939, only a few days after receiving the news that the funding for his library had been improved, Cushing died of a heart attack. His medical library was completed two years later, in 1941. Sadly, he never got the chance to see this for himself, but his numerous contributions to neurology and medicine continue to be acknowledged and celebrated today.

Written by Hawi Teju at Incisionary

APA References

Cushing, Harvey W. (2018, May 11). Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University. https://case.edu/ech/articles/c/cushing-harvey-w

Cushing reflex. (2020, April 15). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing_reflex

Doyle, N. M., Doyle, J. F., & Walter, E. J. (2017). The life and work of Harvey Cushing 1869–1939: A pioneer of neurosurgery. Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 18(2), 157–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/1751143716673076

The Cushing Center. (2025). Dr. Harvey Cushing – Cushing Center – Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library. Yale.edu. https://library.medicine.yale.edu/cushingcenter/harvey-cushing/

Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, April 23). Cushing’s syndrome. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushing%27s_syndrome

Wikipedia Contributors. (2025, July 15). Harvey Cushing. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Cushing#/media/File:Harvey_Williams_Cushing_1938b.jpg