William Healy (neurologist)

He came from a family of farmers who had resided for generations in Farnham Commons of Beaconsfield, twenty-five miles northwest of London.

The small bank was somewhat of a “cultural storehouse” with employees that ranged from Shakespearean scholars and poets to musical conductors.

Healy failed the Latin portion of the Harvard required exams twice but was still awarded a degree and studied at Harvard Medical School for three years before returning to Chicago and completing his degree at the University of Chicago’s Rush Medical School specializing in gynecology.

During this time his interest began to shift toward neurology, and in 1903 he took up a post as instructor of Nervous and Mental Diseases at Chicago Polyclinic.

Healy traveled the country discussing his ideas, and in 1909 led the formation of the Chicago Juvenile Psychopathic Institute.

His work with juvenile populations led him to identify certain “causes,” as well as major and minor “factors” that appeared to contribute to delinquent behavior.

[1] He published 14 books and scores of articles that dealt mainly with the problems of juvenile delinquency and childhood behavioral disabilities.