The Department of Surgery at New York University (NYU) evolved from 2 separate medical schools— the University Medical College and Bellevue Hospital Medical College. University Medical College began in 1841 with the appointment of Valentine Mott, MD (Figure 1), as professor of surgery. Regarded as the most prominent surgeon of that era, Dr Mott is noted for his treatment of peripheral aneurysms. He was succeeded briefly by Dr Samuel D. Gross, who later became internationally prominent as professor at Jefferson Medical College.