Howard A. Kelly served as one of the four original medical professors when Johns Hopkins Medical School was formed. He developed new techniques in abdominal surgery, particularly gynecologic surgery, and was one of the first to recognize the potential for treating cancer with radium.

Kelly received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1882 and traveled to Europe to learn more about advanced gynecologic techniques. He founded Kensington Hospital in Philadelphia in 1888 and served as assistant professor of obstetrics at the University of Philadelphia.

Kelly moved to Baltimore in 1889 to work as gynecologist-in-chief at the new Johns Hopkins Hospital. At age 31, Kelly was one of four original faculty of Johns Hopkins University Medical School. He served as professor of gynecology for 30 years before becoming professor emeritus. Johns Hopkins was founded to raise the standards for medical schools. Admissions standards were very high, and each hospital department led a...