Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons - P and S Yearbook (New York, NY)

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DEDI CA TI ON Harold W, Brown. B.A., Kalamazoo, 1924,' M.S.. Kansa.: Slate, 1925: Sc.D., Johns Hopkins, 19285 MD., Vanderbilt, 1933: Dr.P.H., Harvard 19365 L. H.D. Kalamazoo, 19455 LL.D., Puerto Rico, 1954. Come on in and sit down, Dave. What can I do for you? Dr. Brown, I'm happy to be the one to come and tell you that our class has selected you for the dedication of our yearbook. Thank you . . . I consider it a great honorf' And Dr. Brown did consider it a great honor. Hels that kind of man. He has traveled the world again and again, helped found medical schools in underdevel- oped jungle countries. been instrumental in the creation of numerous programs to bring medical care to the teeming masses, received countless medals and citations from grateful governments and people, and yet still feels genuinely honored when a group of students he has helped takes time out to express their thanks. Dr. Brown glanced briefly out the window at the world he understands and loves to share. He took a slow deep breath, and as he unhurriedly looked back toward me again, I settled back happily into my chair, knowing I was in for a treat. is

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BROWN ON TEACHING: There is nothing a physician in a medi- cal center ought to enjoy more than teaching . . . The priorities here should be teaching. then medical care. then research . , . The greatest product we have is 125 students each year . . . Every class has been good in my 26 years here . . . Money spent on any education is worth- while. BROWN ON STUDENTS: fregarding the student petition asking the administration to allow him to stay beyond retirementj With stu- dents behind you. you have the most powerful influence behind you in the medical center . . . I don't agree with some of the ways they do things, but I'm in favor of student initiated change. BROWN ON PEOPLE: I feel very strongly about respect . . . I always try to give others credit - the only important thing is getting the work done . . . The most important contribution we can make is to treat people as human beings. BROWN ON CHANGE: If you're right. youlre going to win out in the end . . . I've been working with Orientals for over 13 years: they're in no hurry and I've learned to go at the pace that people are comfortable at . . . If our administration was fundamentally interested in teaching, changes would have been made long ago. f BROWN ON HIMSELF: If everyone in this class tinds their niche as I ' have. they will be happy . . . I always felt I ot 'ht to be paying Columbia for letting me work here. As I sat listening I found it hard to separate my agreement with the aphorisms from my en- joyment ofthe man. His vehicle - the story: I'd heard most of them before. maybe a couple of times, but I found myself enthralled again. His knack like any good storyteller was not in the story, but in the telling. The reorganization of the Taiwan Medical School and the initial or- ganization ofthe Puerto Rico Medical School were told as Sagas with bits of practical advice intermixed. And always there was the wry, tongue-in-cheek humor: I see nothing wrong with a pass-fail system. If the students want it. fine. My comments will read: This student passed. he is an A student. Or, this student passed, he is a C student . . . Parasitology never has been very important around here. And it makes sense that a disease like hook- worm which affects only 700,000,000 people with a blood loss of 7.000.000 quarts daily would be considered lightly. This year is the last as chairman of the Para- 19 sitology Department, but his mind is still active in planning. His plan for P8rS is twofold: lj To set up a Department of Interna- tional Medicine with a major interest in the study of nutrition and population and a major goal of serving as a train- ing center and exchange depot for U.S. and foreign M.D.s interested in the two problems. His attitude for this Medical School: Let's take on the world. 23 To reorganize the delivery of medical care in this area with storefront clinics and self-insurance pre-payment pro- grams for employees and neighborhood residents. Come back again. Dave. soon, We'll talk some more. My door is always open. I was leaving smiling and enriched once again. And very glad our dedication is to Dr. Brown . . . because his dedication is to us. S. David Lang