Dr. John Emmett Hall: a legacy in spine surgery.

The study of biography is important to understand the principles of our profession and the intersections of the lives of the key figures in our spine deformity history. We hope that by telling these stories this history will come alive. The surgeons who came before us, as exemplified by Dr. John Emmett Hall, understood the importance of unwavering principles, developing close professional relationships, the value of travel, and the power of collaboration. The legacy of his full life is summed up by the plaque placed by the nurses in his operating room, at Boston Children's Hospital: "The Dr. John E. Hall Room: Dedicated to Compassion, Respect, and Excellence".