KGH: 175 years of caring - Dr. Walter T. Connell

Dr. Walter T. Connell (1873-1964), a graduate of Queen's Medical College, was appointed to the position of Pathologist at KGH and Professor of Pathology and Bacteriology at Queen's University in 1895. He established the Department of Pathology and Bacteriology and made pathology an important component of medical education at Queen's.

Connell's work on clinical bacteriology led to the formation of a Public Health Laboratory in Kingston in 1904. His work was widely recognized, and was a key factor in obtaining a government grant in 1905 to construct a new building on the university campus to house a pathology and bacteriology laboratory. When the Empire Wing of KGH was opened in 1914, it included a pathology lab in its basement.

Connell returned from service in the First World War to become the head of the Department of Medicine at Queen's, a position he held until 1941. He retired from the faculty in 1950. Named in his honour, the Walter T. Connell wing of KGH was established in 1960.

For more information, visit the Museum of Health Care online or download the new App: "Transformation of the Kingston General Hospital 1835-1914."

KGH will mark the 175th anniversary durning the week of September 23, 2013.

Do you have an interesting story to share about your history with KGH? Use the comment section below to tell us!

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Lovell Drugs and our event sponsors, Honeywell and KCCU.