History
The Legacy of a great and sincere physician continues.
Founded in 1920 by Dr. Seale Harris, one of the major forces of modern internal medicine, the clinic began in a small office in the Empire Building in downtown Birmingham. Growing rapidly, it soon moved to Highland Avenue where Dr. Harris built William Gargus Hospital, later to be known as Highland Avenue Baptist Hospital adjacent to his house, which served as his office. Growing even more rapidly, Seale Harris Clinic Expanded on Southside and eventually moved to Baptist Medical Center Montclair when the campus was constructed.
Born March 13, 1870, Seale Harris was raised in a large, loving family in Cedartown, GA where the golden rule was the law of the home. Dr. Harris went on to receive his M.D. from the University of Virginia. Dr. Seale Harris made an amazing career in medicine notably his discovery of hyperinsulinism.
James F. Crenshaw, M.D., was the successor of the Seale Harris legacy. Dr. Crenshaw undertook a career in medicine with Dr. Harris' encouragement and throughout his medical education, worked closely with Dr. Harris in research of diabetes and a new diagnostic look, the electrocardiogram. Dr. Crenshaw later served in the Army during World War II and as a member of the Army of Occupation, was the first physician to use Penicillin in all of Japan. Following the war, Dr. Crenshaw went on to develop Seale Harris Clinic into the stellar diagnostic clinic it is today.
Dr. James F. Crenshaw passed the practice on to his son Dr. James H. Crenshaw who, along with Dr. Jeffrey J. Clifton, continues the legacy today in the OrthoSports Center and Medical Tower on the St. Vincent's Campus in downtown Birmingham!
Check out these links for more information about Dr. Seale Harris!
Alabama Department of Archives and History: Alabama Hall of Fame
