55 Years of Excellence

During World War II, he was called to serve on the Medical Examining Board. Dr. Shouldice, a major in the army, found that many young men willing to serve their country had to be denied enlistment. These men needed surgical treatment to repair their hernias before they could be pronounced physically fit for military training.

In 1940, hospital space and doctors were scarce, especially for this non-emergency surgery that normally took three weeks of hospitalization. Dr. Shouldice resolved to do what he could to alleviate the problem. Contributing his services at no fee, he performed an innovative method of surgery on seventy of these men, hastening their induction into the army.

The delighted recruits soon made known their success stories and by the war's end, more than 200 civilians had contacted the doctor and were awaiting surgery. The scarcity of hospitals beds however, created a major problem. There was only one solution, Dr. Shouldice decided to open his own hospital.

"I never felt so much at home so far away from home." RAYMOND DONOVAN-NORTH BERGEN, N.J.

In July 1945, Shouldice Hospital, staffing a nurse, a secretary and a cook, opened its doors to awaiting patients. In a single operating room, Dr. Shouldice repaired two hernias per day. As requests for this remarkable surgery increased, Dr. Shouldice extended the facilities, located on Church St. in Toronto, by eventually buying three adjacent buildings and increasing his staff accordingly. In 1953, he purchased a beautiful country estate in Thornhill, and a second hospital was established.

All surgery now takes place in Thornhill. Repeated development has culminated in the present 89 bed facility.

Shouldice Hospital has been dedicated to the repair of hernias for over 55 years. Our success rate has long been the benchmark for the medical profession internationally. Success sometimes breeds imitation. We often hear of institutions or associations proclaiming to be performing the "Shouldice Technique" or the "Canadian Method", as if it were a secret formula that has been smuggled out of Thornhill. In fact, we have welcomed doctors from around the world to observe our method of hernia repair and we have always made detailed technical descriptions and reprints from medical journals available to all interested physicians and surgeons.

The "formula", although not a secret, extends beyond the skill of our surgeons and their ability to perform to the Shouldice standard. Shouldice Hospital is a total environment.

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