University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Caduceus Yearbook (Little Rock, AR)

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The beginnings of Medicine in Arkansas are lost in the mists of the past.The early records reveal physicians and surgeons coming here from medi- cal schools in the East and abroad. The first faculty roster ofthe University at Fayetteville lists a Richard Thurston, M.D., ofVan Buren, who was paid S480 for teaching. It was to be a long time before other physicians were paid for thier contributions to the University. By 1870, however, there was e sufficient number of physicians with active interest, who constituted themselves as the Arkansas Medical Society. This Society engaged in both scientific and political activity for the improvement and regulation of health, medical care, and medical practice. This body became the true father of the Medical Center, and there were frequent exchanges between the Board of Trustees of the University and the Officiers of the Medical Society concerning the establishment of a Medical Department. The fact that the University was permanently located in Fayetteville, away from the cultured business, legislative, and more important medical cen- ter ofthe state posed problems to both parties. The lack of clinical material for medical instruction in Fayetteville and the indifference ofthe Board of the University led the Medical Society to explore the establishment of a Medical Department of St. Johns College here in Little Flock. Nothing came of this. however. Eventually, in 1879, with the support of and for the Medical Society, certain physicians of Little Rock under the leadership of Dr. Hooper formed a stock company and inaugurated a medical school for the state, The University accepted this institution as the Medical Department ofthe University. granting degrees to the graduates. but stipulated that it would assume no financial responsibility for its support. lt was 65 years before this fiscal ir- responsibility was reversed. Support was solely by the physicians of Little Flock, by the city, which made available the facilities of the city hospitals. by student fees, and by the State Medical Society. Recognition by the Association of American Medical Colleges was attained in 1890, in which year the curriculum was extended to four years of six months each, and there were 83 students with 17 graduating. In 1906 a second medical school, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, was established. This institution likewise was self-supporting and while it struggled little was added to medicine in Arkansas. I At the 1909 meeting of the Arkansas State Medical Society, a committee was appointed with Doctor Young of Springdale its Chairman, with three objectives. First, to persuade the two faculties of medicine to merge, to combine their acquired properties and equipment and to deed them to the State. Second, to persuade the General Assembly to accept these properties, making the combined school a part of the University and providing for its support. Third, to induce the State to build and maintain a Charity Hospital in connection with and under the control of the University School of Medicine. The first two of these objectives was accomplished by 1911, but it required nearly 50 years for the third, the Hospital. ln accepting this gift, the Leg- islature-not the University-pledged the faith and credit of the State to forever maintain and operate a first class medical school as a part of the University, with the course of study, methods of instruction and equipment of standards equivalent to that required of Medical Colleges by the Asso- ciation of American Colleges. However, the Legislature adjourned without appropriating any funds for such a purpose. As the legislature prepared to move to the New Capitol in 1913. it passed a resolution making available the 75 year old State Capitol Building for use of the Medical School, and in the same year Dean Smith. a graduate of the University, presented a budget of S50,000. According to the Gazette: A huge laugh went up from the solons when that request was presented. who regarded the maintenance of a medical school as the wildest extravagancef' However, the Legis- lature appropriated S36.000. There were further appropriations by the Legislature to the Medical Department directly. It was not until 1945 that the appropriation for the Univer- sity included money for the school of Medicine. Because of the financial and other stringencies, the school lost its accreditation and reverted to a two year preclinical school in 1918. The State Medical Society Committee was still working on its third goal, a hospital. These developments, plus the persuasive powers of Dean Smith, induced the Legislature in 1920 to appropriate 3500.000 for the hospital. Unfortunately, the State Peniten- tary was in debt. and the funds subsequently were diverted to the Penitentiary. The City of Little Rock again came tothe rescue with the completion of the new City Hospital at McArthur Park, making these facilities available to the Medical School. and clinical instruction was resumed. ln 1935 the modern Medical School building was constructed with W.P.A. funds, adja- cent to the hospital, and in 1939 the State leased the City Hospital to complete the first combined unit for the Medical Center as such until 1956. University Hospital and Medical School

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CCDLLEGE BU i LDI NG. y uw rrmzm, lisntoirifs Xl six tw l.lwl mist Nrrzl in ,wa My 15,1 -,ff at f,f. Mt-.t+,w vinyl, Mit, Second Medical School Building 123 Sherman .M F9752 ' Q it . it ,ff ' , t f , 'L or .i-, , I , Witt? '-' Afi, f,., V - . ,, wh 'f'i ' wwfgawwwmQMWWHWHQWWWWMMMWMQ ,,,?f my , , ,, - t l ,,.,, , gf g tg ,Q ,' ' 1 V' tMWVw rM+W5'Nt,tf5lWWl +tww ll 5-f' W ll , Y ' I Q: ,gl ,W j, A It Z t ,'f i ' ,, wi-f ,, www fwwfr, t ,,,, , ,Mwst - L 2 V. . ,.,.- f,.,' f , ,J r,0,,r,!,t.:?g'f MQWDJQL ,f - . 5, .nrt WW ,,-' . 5 t. ,, Nw ' ,gg it tw: ,ft . ' i : , f 1,,, 1 ,1 ,'-, zg 1 14,3 . . , :L i, Q : ' ' V li ' .,,, ff M., two, ,.,, , Jglifigf,,,.zigaM1nii4.,,J'W ' 1 -' ' , i . Mfg ,ff-wa+?,yf:gzgW'- ,f + fpvZI,l:,:?.,Q, . Q1 - S f 15-44 M l'R-ll. 1' 1 , , - ,.,, , V , M , 53gm,,gfffw:LW , ,, ,,t Logan H. Roots Memorial City Hospital operated in conjunction with the second Medical School Building. '-,,,A ,L Y MM, ttit, A it s 4 Wm S fywwww f lx, , ywn . ,.,t. ,, ..,, , 'H 'M lflll M to U ,, 4 ,W , , W ,H , .f-m,g,,, , r I ,M i o r 1 or t , t ,,, :'f5'2f .'L' .Q,fff5 ,' K in My ' LL' Hi , iieii S ii i , o ,..t l ftl,i ,,t' flft. 1 j'2Ef,,,:,H1iQ,lQi,, ju .,,, , ,,,,' ,k16ill' jg',V The First State Capitol as a Medical School 'N ' ' Building between the first and second school ,V '., xg 1 - - ' 'L A ' 7J fWW5f .f f V -V 1 1+ W .14 , it llllw ,, m ia! i ii., 'r't l I if 1 tl thi iwwmewwti,.ewwwh,zit 'wfttf f vt f fflf t lg t'i'i'W 'M!f 12,1195 'W'T t K it J

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Life is shorty and the Art longg the occasion fleetingg experience fallacious, and the judgement difficult. -Hippocmtes