Interview with Dr. John L. Cameron

What has changed from the first edition, published in 1984, to the current edition, published in 2023?   

The 1st edition of the book was about 600 pages in length. The last edition, the 14th edition, of Current Surgical Therapy contained well over 1600 pages.

How did Current Surgical Therapy first come about?

In the early 1980’s I was approached by Brian Decker a publisher from Toronto concerning editing a book that would be entitled Current Surgical Therapy. Brain had previously worked for Saunders and edited a book called Current Therapy. He left Saunders and decided he would start a series of Current Therapy in surgery, gastroenterology, neurosurgery etc. He wanted me to be the editor for Current Surgical Therapy. I told him I was way too busy and over committed and could not do it. He persisted and came back on multiple occasions, took me to dinner, and finally convinced me to do one edition and if it was successful to consider doing more. Well that one issue came out in 1984 and apparently was very successful sold many more copies than Brian Decker thought any first edition of any book in medicine could sell so we decided to continue every 3 years. I have done it every 3 years up until now. The 15th edition is being worked on and that will be 40 years of Current Surgical Therapy.

How do you feel knowing that Current Surgical Therapy has been in publication for 40 years?

I have been travelling around the world and representing the Johns Hopkins Hospital as Chief of Surgery for many years. I have seen copies of this book in English virtually in every country I have visited and has been translated into several languages. Current Surgical Therapy has become known and respected and appreciated throughout the world. Instead of being a chore, it’s been a pleasure to work on this book every 3 years. It kept me up to date so that when I travel and visit other institutions, I am pretty much up to date on all fields in general surgery. Through the endeavor that I initially tried to get Brian Decker to go away and leave me alone, has turned into a very pleasant experience. Brian sold Current Surgical Therapy after the 1st four editions. In addition, with the 10th edition I have added my son Dr. Andrew Cameron as a co-editor. It is now a family affair. It’s been very enjoyable, and I am delighted that Brian Decker talked me in to undertaking this adventure. Andrew is now the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Hopkins.

About the Editor

Dr. John L. Cameron, is The Alfred Blalock Distinguished Service Professor of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He was born and raised in Michigan. He went to college at Harvard and graduated in 1958. He moved to Baltimore that same year and entered medical school at Hopkins and graduated from medical school in 1962. He has been at Hopkins ever since from 1958 to 2024. He was also the chairman of the Department of Surgery at Hopkins from 1984 to 2003.

Purchase your copy of Current Surgical Therapy, 14th Edition here!