Discovery According to Blalock

Abstract

Alfred Blalock (1899–1964), the celebrated surgeon, considered discovery as one of the most important qualities a dedicated researcher could cultivate. Pursuing discovery would permit the young or mature surgical investigator to utilize the most advanced tools to define the problem at hand. In this writing, discovery is analyzed within the context of Professor Blalock's ideas and advice. Blalock praised the virtues of classical investigators typified by Claude Bernard, Walter Cannon, and Otto Loewi. He used and recommended their writings as a way to instruct new surgical investigators. There was so much to learn from the older generation of accomplished and seasoned researchers. The Hopkins surgeon-researcher-educator believed in four categories of discovery: the first related to chance or accident, the second associated with intention or design, the third dependent on intuition or imagination, and the fourth associated with a combination of two or more of the previous characteristics. Blalock greatly understood and enjoyed visiting with young investigators, even though his time remained at a premium. He continued as a committed investigator all his life and considered discovery at the center of the investigator's enterprise.