Hosted by Jake Sossamon, a neurology resident at Stanford University, <i>The History of Neurology Podcast</i> explores the human drama and discoveries behind the syndromes and eponyms we use in clinical practice every day. By tracing the evolution of the specialty from wartime breakthroughs to landmark laboratory insights, the show bridges the gap between the archives of the past and the challenges of the modern ward. Each episode concludes with "Consulting the Masters," an AI-assisted segment that brings neurological pioneers into the 21st century to weigh in on current breakthroughs. For inquiries, story suggestions, or collaborations, please reach out at <b>historyofneurology@gmail.com</b>.
History of Neurology
Claim This Podcastby Jake Sossamon
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3 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Hosted by Jake Sossamon, a neurology resident at Stanford University, <i>The History of Neurology Podcast</i> explores the human drama and discoveries behind the syndromes and eponyms we use in clinical practice every day. By tracing the evolution of the specialty from wartime breakthroughs to landmark laboratory insights, the show bridges the gap between the archives of the past and the challenges of the modern ward. Each episode concludes with "Consulting the Masters," an AI-assisted segment that brings neurological pioneers into the 21st century to weigh in on current breakthroughs. For inquiries, story suggestions, or collaborations, please reach out at <b>historyofneurology@gmail.com</b>.
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Publishing Since
2/10/2026
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Recent Episodes
May 5, 2026
The 28 Lines that Changed Neurology: On Babinki's Reflex
<b>In this episode, we travel to late 19th-century Paris to meet a Polish-French neurologist who stood at the center of a medical revolution: a favorite student of the "Napoleon of the Salpêtrière" who was nearly cast out of medicine. He was a master of physical diagnosis and gave us the clinical reflex that differentiated a malady of the mind from a malady of the brain with the scratch of a key. We’ll dive into Joseph Babinski, how he transformed the world of neurology with a single paper only 28 lines long, and the eponym wars the ensued shortly after.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Primary Sources & Further Reading: Babinski, J. (1896). Sur le réflexe cutané plantaire dans certaines affections organiques du système nerveux central. Comptes Rendus de la Société de Biologie, 48, 32-33.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Connect with the Show:</b><br /><b>Historyofneurology@gmail.com</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Please Subscribe and Share!</b><b></b>
April 2, 2026
James Parkinson the Paleontologist
Before he was a household name in neurology, James Parkinson was a man of dangerous secrets and ancient stones. In this episode, we travel to 19th-century London to meet a surgeon who lived a triple life: a political radical nearly executed for a plot against the King, a world-renowned pioneer of paleontology, and a community doctor who identified a "shaking palsy" by simply watching his neighbors walk to the market.<br /><br />Primary Sources & Further Reading:<br /><ul><li>Parkinson, J. (1817). An Essay on the Shaking Palsy. Printed by Whittingham and Rowland for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones.</li><li>Old Hubert [Parkinson, J.]. (1794). Pearls Cast Before Swine: Or, A Christmas Present to the "Swinish Multitude." Being a Collection of Valuable Material from the Library of Old Hubert. Printed for D. I. Eaton.</li></ul>Connect with the Show:<br /><ul><li>Please Subscribe and Share!</li><li>Historyofneurology@gmail.com</li></ul>
February 10, 2026
The 'L' is Not Silent: The Secret History of Guillain-Barré
<b>"We’ve been saying it wrong for a century."</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>In this episode, we deconstruct the wartime discovery and the linguistic mystery of Guillain-Barré-Strohl Syndrome. From the trenches of the Somme to the lecture halls of the Salpêtrière, we explore how a name became a brand and who was left behind in the process.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Primary Sources & Further Reading:</b><br /><ul><li>The Original 1916 Paper: Guillain G, Barré JA, Strohl A. Sur un syndrome de radiculo-névrite avec hyperalbuminose du liquide céphalo-rachidien sans réaction cellulaire. Bull Mem Soc Med Hop Paris. 1916; 40:1462-70.</li><li>On the Pronunciation: Rogoff, JB. Pronunciation of Guillain. JAMA. 1977; 237(22):2381.</li><li>The 1937 Retraction: Guillain, G. Radiculoneuritis with Acellular Hyperalbuminosis of the Cerebrospinal Fluid. International Congress of Neurology, Paris (1936).</li><li>The Legacy of Barré: Schächter, M. In Memoriam: Jean-Alexandre Barré (1880-1967). Revue d'Oto-Neuro-Ophtalmologie. 1967.</li></ul><b>Connect with the Show:</b><br /><ul><li>Please Subscribe and Share!</li><li>Historyofneurology@gmail.com</li></ul>
3 total episodes available
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- What is History of Neurology?
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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