LOVE, WAR, AND THE MYSTERY OF SHOCK
Why do patients die when their wounds are survivable?
A love story, a war story—and the origin of modern trauma care.
The Story of Grace and George Crile
Based on original photographs, diaries, and letters from the Crile family archives.
At dawn, July 25, 1898, military surgeon George W. Crile captured this view of Guánica Harbor from the deck of the USS Yale as U.S. troops entered Puerto Rico.
Source: Cleveland Clinic Archives
Available for Public Talks and Presentations
GENERAL AUDIENCE (Museums, Libraries, Book Events)
Talks and Presentations
Roger Foster speaks on the lives of George W. Crile and Grace McBride Crile, and the origins of modern trauma care—where science, war, and human resilience intersect.
Drawing on original archival materials, his talks bring audiences inside a remarkable story: how a young surgeon’s unanswered question—and an extraordinary partnership—helped change the course of modern medicine.
Speaking topics include:
- A love story behind a medical revolution
- Medicine in wartime, 1898–1918
- The Spanish-American War and the mystery of shock
- Grace and George Crile in World War I
- The origins of modern trauma care
- Science, partnership, and discovery
Contact
For inquiries about talks, the book, or archival materials:
contact@rogerfosterbooks.com
Custom talks available for medical and military audiences: