He is considered one of the fathers of surgery and modern forensic pathology and a pioneer in surgical techniques and battlefield medicine, especially in the treatment of wounds.

[1][2] These words, inscribed on his statue in Laval, are reminiscent of the Latin adage medicus curat, natura sanat, "The physician cures, nature heals".

In his autobiographical book, Journeys in Diverse Places, Paré inadvertently practised the scientific method when he returned the following morning to a battlefield.

[7] The usual method of sealing wounds by searing with a red-hot iron often failed to arrest the bleeding and caused patients to die of shock.

During his work with injured soldiers, Paré documented the pain experienced by amputees which they perceive as sensation in the 'phantom' amputated limb.

Paré believed that phantom pains occur in the brain (the consensus of the medical community today) and not in remnants of the limb.

[9] In 1542, during the siege of Perpignan, Paré, accompanying the French army, employed a novel technique to aid in bullet extraction.

During his time at the Hôtel-Dieu, Paré directly influenced the education of future royal midwife Louise Boursier.

[13] Paré was ably seconded by his pupil Jacques Guillemeau, who translated his work into Latin, and at a later period himself wrote a treatise on midwifery.

In 1552, Paré was accepted into royal service of the Valois Dynasty under Henry II; he was however unable to cure the king's fatal blow to the head, which he received during a tournament in 1559.

It happened that a cook at Paré's court was caught stealing fine silver cutlery, and was condemned to be hanged.