Brainpower & Brownbags Over the Santa Fe Trail to Mexico: The Travel Diaries of Dr. Rowland Willard

Dr. Rowland Willard (1794-1884) was one of the first physicians to travel the Santa Fe Trail and El Camino Real.  For two years from 1825, he practiced medicine in Taos before departing for Santa Fe, Las Cruces and El Paso, finally arriving in Chihuahua during a measles epidemic. He was the only medical professional to exam Hugh Glass (portrayed Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie The Revenant) after his near fatal encounter with a grizzly bear.