Dr. William Halsted was a pioneering American surgeon born in 1852. He is best known for his contributions to surgical techniques and the development of modern surgical practices. Halsted introduced the concept of using anesthesia in surgery and emphasized the importance of aseptic techniques to prevent infections. Halsted also played a significant role in the establishment of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He developed the Halsted technique for breast surgery, which focused on careful dissection and preservation of surrounding tissues. His work laid the foundation for many surgical practices still in use today.