David Oshinsky

David M. Oshinsky is a distinguished American historian, author, and professor, renowned for his in-depth explorations of American medical and social history. Born in 1944, he earned his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and has held academic positions at institutions such as Rutgers University, the University of Texas at Austin, and currently at New York University, where he serves as the director of the Division of Medical Humanities at the NYU School of Medicine .

Oshinsky's scholarly work has garnered significant recognition. His book Polio: An American Story won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2005, highlighting the development and impact of the polio vaccine. He has also authored Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital, which delves into the history of Bellevue Hospital in New York City .

Oshinsky's writings often reflect on the complexities of American society and the human condition. For instance, he notes, “How little we seem able to do in a lifetime—and how fast the years slip by.” Additionally, he observes, “Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.”