The Osler Club of London

Celebrating Oslerian history since 1928

In pursuit of the clinical, historical, moral, and ethical principles of a “good doctor“.

The Club was founded in the late 1920s by six young doctors led by Alfred White Franklin and Walter Bett. They had trained at Oxbridge and London and wanted to pursue the clinical, historical, moral and ethical principles that contributed to the performance of a “good doctor”. They chose Sir William Osler, who had died a decade earlier, as the embodiment of their intentions and the Club was named after him with the permission of Lady Osler.

The Club meets eight times a year at the Royal College of Physicians of London thanks to a bequest by Thomas Cotton after whom the Club’s room at the college is named. A lecture and subsequent discussion at 7 pm is followed at 8 pm by a three course buffet supper with wines and coffee, usually held in the Linacre and Sloan rooms respectively. Meetings end around 9.30 pm.

Meetings are attended by 30 to 40 members and their guests and the dress is smart casual except for the black tie Osler Oration. The annual programme includes historical research and analysis as well as commentaries on contemporary developments in practice and its underlying principles. The affairs of the Club are fostered by a President and Council and are published on the website where the names of the officers and Council members can be found.

Membership

The members of the Club, either medical or those engaged in some activity related to medicine, are devoted to the humanistic approach to medicine, as exemplified in the life and works of Sir William Osler. Membership of the Osler Club is open to medical men and women, medical students, and persons associated in the history of medicine and the allied sciences.

Guests may attend one lecture and pay for supper if they wish to stay for that. Alternatively they may attend the lecture and drinks beforehand. Please contact us to book a place.

Standard

Upon acceptance you will be asked to set up a banker’s order to the Osler Club of London of £50.00, and then £50.00 on the 1st October of each succeeding year of membership.

Student

If you are currently a medical student the membership fee is waived for 4 years.



“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”

– Sir William Osler

Get in Touch

Please apply for membership or contact us about other queries using our contact form, link below.