Country Doctor--1948

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Health, Medicine, Science and Society

Ed Hessler

In 1948 LIFE magazine published the photo-essay, "Country Doctor."

Photojournalist Eugene Smith spent 23 days in Kremmling, CO "chronicling the day-to-day challenges faced by the indefatigable general practitioner Dr. Ernest Ceriani." Ceriani was born on a sheep ranch in Wyoming, attended Loyola School of Medicine (Chicago), and served in the Navy before he made the choice to return to a decidedly rural practice where he was the only "physician for an area of 400 square miles, inhabited by 2000 people." 

The challenges and occasional pleasures are found in Smith's full photo-essay plus photographs that never made it to publication.

See here.