Cushing's Understanding Support & Help Organization (CUSH) Memorializes Dr. Harvey Cushing on his birth date each year. For the past 2 years April 8th has been designated as National Cushing's Syndrome Awareness Day by the US Senate. Each year the resolution must to be passed before it can be designated as a nationally known date. We are always hopeful that the resolution will be approved each year. However, we usually don't know until a few days prior to April 8th. Therefore, CUSH has adopted this date and it will always be our awareness day whether it is a nationally recognized date or not. We promote Cushing's Awareness all year. However, this is a special date that we have set aside to honor Dr. Harvey Cushing's on his birth date. We ask that all CUSH members do something to promote Cushing's Awareness on April 8th whether it be something as simple as wearing a support pin to a larger event such as hosting a luncheon.

 

Harvey Williams Cushing (April 8, 1869 - October 7, 1939)

Dr. Cushing was an American neurosurgeon and a pioneer of brain surgery. He is widely regarded as the greatest neurosurgeon of the 20th century and is commonly associated with his most famous discovery, Cushing's disease.

He attended Yale University.  Graduating in 1891, he entered Harvard Medical School and completed his MD and Master of Arts degrees in 1895. His post-graduate training first took place at the Massachusetts General Hospital as a House Officer (intern); then at the newly established Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. At Hopkins.

While At Hopkins he came under the influence of several famous physicians: It was William Halsted who greatly influenced Cushing's surgical skills by his own exquisite operative technique, respect for tissues, homeostasis and meticulous pre- and post-operative care of patients. 

His school of neurosurgery was world famous. Early in his career, Dr. Cushing authored "The Pituitary Body and its Disorders" which brought him instant recognition. His contributions to neuro-surgery were numerous. his school of neuro-surgery was world famous where he trained many young men and women who later became world famous.

Cushing had many other talents: athlete, artist, author, bibliophile.
He was a true American hero!