Something the Lord Made - the facts that were hidden

On 28 March BSMU international club Between the Cultures organised the film Something the Lord Made, the true story of two medical pioneers — one celebrated, one overlooked. The students had the opportunity to watch this film on a big screen in the hall of BSMU 10th building.

As we mentioned previously, it is an american biographical drama film about the black cardiac pioneer Vivien Thomas and his complex and volatile partnership with white surgeon Alfred Blalock, the "Blue Baby doctor" who pioneered modern heart surgery. 

The true story of two medical pioneers — one celebrated, one overlooked — is brought to life in this made-for-cable drama. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) is chief surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, where he is pioneering new techniques in heart surgery. Blalock makes the acquaintance of Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), a carpenter hired to work at the University, and to his surprise discovers a man of keen intelligence who has a great interest in medicine. However, as a poor black man in the Jim Crow South, Thomas lacks the financial resources to obtain a medical degree, though he certainly has the knowledge and the desire. Blalock takes Thomas on as his lab assistant, and together they develop a technique that allows them to correct a common congenital heart defect in children. However, while they work side by side in the lab and in the operating room, Blalock and Thomas do not walk the same paths in society, and Thomas develops a deep resentment that he has been given little credit for his contribution to a medical innovation that makes Blalock famous.

As the students shared their feelings they cinsider the film very interesting and thought-provoking, the film that shows not only relationship between people but the history and development of global surgery.

More photos here