Albany Medical College - Skull Yearbook (Albany, NY)

Page 8 text:

'QQ The class of 1959 Maxon hai avahff 3 menu and honors Oi that this Dedicatifi - dnE in us as :tu e ' difficult to ce: Itzs r 2' f nation of hl1IUJY' 7 dletir uuders ,f Maxon d1ed1IH' fo n asympa . . 1: F' eubtleties. of physoqf learned to be ever . His aauugnfaf on both heart and 3 as he waited for drawn back in a It is the fllougis L each of us feek. 3 T0 you, Dr. Fm 5 regard for your 6:11 sf - . sound, the pulse f . f. LJ. .

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TO THE CLASS OF 1959: It is again my honor to be invited to submit this annual letter to SKULL. 4 Four years ago, upon matriculation, you ap- peared to be a rather heterogeneous aggregation of college students representing many colleges and states. Now, as you prepare to separate from your medical school with the highly coveted degree of Doctor of Medicine, the Class of 759 has acquired many characteristics of homogeneity and togetherness which will bind you in the life- long spirit of friendship regardless of your event- ual geographic distribution. As medical students at Albany Medical College, you have strengthened and expanded the scientific foundation developed during your previous years of formalized education through additional knowledge of the basic medical sciences. You have demonstrated the ability and the habit of applying basic principles in the diagnosis and management of the challenging problems en- countered in health and disease. Through per- sonal experience, you have acquired the practice t 2 'us of sound reasoning and critical judgment. It has X, ' .V E 4 j . t been your opportunity to gain a full understand- . -' g., ing of professional ethics. It is to be hoped that r t - ...mf each of you has grasped the importance of pre- -- serving a mind. ppen to judicial acceptance of . new knowledge as well as to dismissal of out- dated information. In addition to the develop- ment of professional competence, you have seen the importance of exercising the compassion, tolerance and missionary zeal necessary to demonstrate a true reverence for life. The changing world geography and social order as well as an aging population continually lead to the creation of new fields which demand medical graduates capable of adapting to meet the changing times. From your knowledge of the impact of one personality upon another, you are cognizant of the need to design the clinical structure of your medical career to include further study not only of the physics and chemistry of tissues but also of the emotional and social reactions of men during sickness and health. Your broad program here at the Albany Medical College has emphasized not only the understanding of human disease but also of the human beings who suffer its afiiictions. It must be that you take leave of your school with pride and the comforting feeling that it has enabled you to prepare yourselves to be able to modify the remaining medical superstructure, known as your medical career, by furnishing you with education of sound basic design and tools for wide application. It will also be most satisfying as you compare the experience you have had at Albany Medical College with that of graduates of other institu- tions whom you will meet at various times and places. lt is evident from what has been said that you have just completed the initial phase of your medical education. You alone, with the exception of certain specialty board requirements, will determine the extent and character of its continued development. The habit of enforced self-education and participation in postgraduate educational programs is the only insurance available against pathetic degradation into an outdated, uninformed practitioner. On behalf of the entire faculty, I take this occasion to commend the Class of '59 for its performance to date. We wish you the ultimate in happiness and success in the future and will be continually interested in your accomplishments. We sincerely hope that your periodic return visits to the Medical College will be frequent and pleasant ones. Most sincerely. Harold C. Wiggers, Dean fafomrlof, 6- sf

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The class of 1959 has the distinction of being one of the groups that Dr. Frank Maxon has taught. It is not our aim in this Dedication to reiterate the many achieve- ments and honors of this line teacher and shrewd clinician. Our class, instead, wishes that this Dedication convey to Dr. Maxon our deep appreciation for his interest in us as students and our thanks for his untiring teaching efforts. It is difficult to communicate the aura a man of medicine has about him. A combi- nation of humor, an eye toward the unexpected, a boundless store of knowledge, and a sympathetic understanding of the studentis gropings toward knowledge, make Dr. Maxon the stimulating figure a medical student requires. Without his spark many subtleties.of physical diagnosis might not have been appreciated. From him we learned to be ever suspicious of the faint ripple of the skin, the unfamiliar breath sound, the pulse that does not bound true. His willingness and desire to give of himself and his time have left their mark on both heart and mind of our class. We could never forget his thoughtful pause as he waited for the student to digest the previous pearl, the corners of his mouth drawn back in a smile, his chin thrust forward. It is the thoughts that each member of this class has, and the appreciation that each of us feels, that in the last analysis serve as the reason for this dedication. To you, Dr. Frank Maxon, we offer these poor words as a symbol of our everlasting regard for your efforts and success. DR. FRANK C. MAXON, JR