Medical College of Virginia - X Ray Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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DR. STUART McGUIRE This gifted son of gifted paternal and maternal forebears for generations occupied for more than a half century a place in medical aflfairs that has rarely been equaled, and certainly never surpassed in the history of the profession in his native State. Born just two years after the close of the conflict in which his father played a distinguished role as surgeon-in-chief of Jackson ' s Army, he as a child, and even through young manhood, was seldom free from pain. So frail, indeed, that he was not taught to read until after he was ten years old, and rarely was it possible for him to attend school or college for a full session without a breakdown. An early operation on the spine and a steel brace which it was necessary for him to wear throughout his career, and above all an iron will such as we have never seen dupli- cated, enabled him to partially overcome these handicaps and to accomplish on a high level of excellence an amount of work — pro- fessional, administrative and civic — that amazed those associated with him. It is his part in medical education in Virginia that deserves first place in any word of dedication. From the day he was appointed professor of the principles of surgery in the newly organized University College of Medicine he was recognized as a leader. His influence became so dominant that in the considered judgment of many of his confreres it is doubtful that without him medical education in Rich- mond could have survived the trying years when the standards were being raised so drastically. He gave freely of his time, his labor, his money, and his great intellectual ability, for seeing that the Medical College of Virginia take its rightful place among the medical centers of the country. Private funds that have come to it have come largely through his influence. His wisdom as its president for many years, and later as chairman of its Board of Visitors until ill health made it necessary for him to leave to the able vice-president most of the work of the latter oflEice, is evidenced all through the records of the institution. What does Dr. Stuart think about it? was always the question before any major decision was made for almost half a century. His passing marked the end of an era in medical affairs in Virginia. f 5 )

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In Mcmoriam Stuart McGuire, M.D., LL.D. (1867-1948) [ 4

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foreword We approach the turn of the half Century with an inventory of 173 newly graduated men and women of science; a large modern medical center; and a chunky portfolio of immediate and future plans. Today ' s graduates returning to the Medical College of Virginia during the years of the second half of the Twentieth Century will note progress and expansion that will go a long way towards naming our Century as one of unbelievable construction rather than de- struction. That is the prayer and incentive that will turn our portfolio of plans into growing research centers, expanding hospitals, and endless facilities for training men and women. I 6 I