"At Johns Hopkins, William Hasted is legend. He was a founding physician of Johns Hopkins Hospital, its first surgeon-in-chief, and he laid the foundation for surgical training and the art of surgery as we now know it in the United States. Before Halsted, surgical training was a haphazard series of preceptorships without a definite end, and surgery itself was akin to butchery.
But what about the man behind his pioneering accomplishments? At the 100th anniversary of his death, we felt the time was right to present a holistic, warts-and-all depiction of this innovator, genius, and person battling drug addiction. The more we uncovered in our brainstorming sessions, the more we knew we had a great story to tell. Let's give the reader a profile that offers perspective to the storied accomplishments, with some humor and the human condition thrown in."
From the Judges
"Angels and Demons" is a well-researched and comprehensive piece that effectively portrays Halsted's complicated life and ultimate legacy. Judges appreciated the thorough coverage of his contributions despite significant struggles. The organization of the story was terrific, and the author's writing was consistently strong throughout the piece. Overall, the nomination deserves recognition for its quality and ability to captivate its audience.
