The Toronto Medical Historical Club was a proud supporter of the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Osler Society which met in Toronto, May 1-4, 2026. The American Osler Society is a history of medicine organization dedicated to perpetuating the life, teachings, and ethical example of Sir William Osler.
Peter Kopplin gave a delightful and informative talk titled, “The History of the Toronto Medical Historical Club: an update” and Christopher Rutty provided interesting insights into the contributions of the brother of Sir William Osler in, “Sir Edmund; An Osler Brother & Health Care Building in Toronto: From Sick Kids Hospital to Connaught Labs @ U of T.” A highlight of the meeting was The John P. McGovern Award Lecture delivered by Anthony Fauci via video: “HIV/AIDS: Science, Policy, and a 45 Year Personal Journey.”
On Monday, May 4, post-meeting events began. They included archival visits to the Trinity College Archives and the Fisher Rare Book Library. Club members Peter Kopplin, John Dirks, Christopher Rutty, Alison Li and Steve McCabe led a “medical discovery” walking tour on and around the University of Toronto campus.
On Tuesday, club members joined the AOS on a day-long bus trip. Our first stop was at Bond Head, Ontario, the birth place of Sir William Osler.
Peter Kopplin provided valuable commentary at Trinity Anglican Church (now St Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church) where Sir William’s father, the Reverend Canon Featherstone Lake Osler, served.
We then visited the Osler cairn at Bond Head. This memorial was erected by the Toronto Medical Historical Club in 1961 with the support of the American Osler Society. We were greeted by Jim Cerswell whose family owned and has cared for this property.
The day ended with a lovely visit to the Banting House Museum National Historic Site in London, Ontario, which commemorates the life of Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin.
We were warmly welcomed by curator Grant Maltman and guided through the museum by a team of volunteers.
[Photo: Ken Pritzger]
![First and last insulin bottles used by Ted Ryder [Banting House Museum]](https://www.torontomedicalhistoricalclub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/insulin-ted-ryder.jpeg)
[Banting House Museum]
