Drexel University College of Medicine - Medic Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 18 text:

MEDICAL DIRECTOR R. W. PLUMMER, M.D. Few of us realize Jrhe dynamic personalily which olficiales over lhe hospilal. Former Naval caplain, friend of all, Dr. Plummer has +he unique abilily of remembering everyone by Jrheir lirslr name. By his able execufiveness, +he hospilal has progressed by leaps and bounds. VICE-PRESIDENT OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS HARRY MARTIN EBERHARD. M.D. A 'rrue lop man in his chosen specially, Dr. Eberhard has long been considered fhe slu- denls' friend. His sympa'rhe'ric undersfanding and progressive views are qualifies which we all admire. The Board of Truslees chose wisely when lhey appoinled Dr. Eberhard lo bridge lhe gap befween Them and 'rhe medical men.

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THE DEAN DR. WILLIAM A. PEARSON Scholarly and genllemanly-our Dean has very capably handled lhe responsibililies of his office for fhirly-rwo years. Never is he loo busy 'ro chair wilh any of 'rhe s+udenls who may need counsel or consolalion lexcep+ Wednesdays I2-Il. To you, sir, for Jrhe many favors accorded us . . . A SALUTE! PROVOST FREDERIC J. VON RAPP The personal represenfalive ol fhe Board ol Trusfees. Here is 'rhe man who musl acl as lrouble shoofer and coordinale 'rhe various deparlmenls info one vast smoolhly-running machine. No small laslc is Jrhis, and any and all complainls musf be handled quickly, elli- cienfly, and diplomalically. A lhoroughly busy man.

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Remember the challenging address of Dr. Joseph V. F. Clay. Sr., to Seniors and Freshmen alike at the opening exercises in Klahr Auditorium, the evening of September 22, l94I7 Representing the Faculty of the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia, I welcome the students, new and old, to the Ninety-Fourth scholastic session. This is not an evening calling for flowery, flowing, classical oratory. We are not here to laud you. This will be kept for the spring. We are here to give you a candid portrayal of what is ahead and to encourage you. Therefore, I ask your patience with my pedantic remarks. Some of you will, within a few days or a few weeks, quietly disappear: others will hold out until the Christmas holidaysg some others will stumble along until the finals in the spring. So it has been, and probably will be, for this new class will not be any different from previous classes. For the sake of you and your families, we pray you will all be successful .... It is a great privilege to become a novice in medicine and this should be supported by an appreciation of the accompanying responsibilities .... Up to this point your education has been a costly venture. From now on it becomes more costly and more hazardous. You have a financial responsibility ta your family or to others who may be helping you or to yourself if you are self-sustaining .... Failures may evoke disappointment for you, but to your fathers, mothers and others who are interested they are heart-breaking episodes. Since your aspirations are to become a physician, your department should be in accord with that high office .... It is not too soon to exercise commendable practices. A gentlemanly demeanor is an attribute of the medical attendant, expected by all classes-rich or poor-ignorant or literate .... Then, please, gentlemen, you have a responsibility to this instif tution which has been given to some of you--and will begin tomorrow for others-the opportunity to follow medicine. It is a sad incident when the institution's name is shadowed by ungen- tlemanly activities of its students. We of the Faculty are proud of the reputation of Hahnemann and resent any acts on the part of those connected with the institution which occasion adverse criticism .... Every institution has its traditions. This school is not an excep- tion. Some traditions are good and may be accepted. Others are of questionable acceptance. Opinions of teachers, their course, examination gradings, their peculiarities and eccentrici- ties, as expressed by the older students, may be profitably ques- tic d. This institution was here a long time before you came ar will probably be here a long time after you have gone. lt is gotten along nicely in the face of wars and depressions and the usual institutional intrigues and iealousies. It would be well for you newcomers not to attempt a reconstruction of the Faculty and the curriculum or the Hospital. This was attempted before your time and with embarrassment to the reformers. Form your own opinions after impersonal unbiased analysis, supported by personal experience. Many students are handicapped by mental hazards because of the acceptance of the opinion of upperclassmen. Frequently we are beset with the question of how to study .... Some students derive the greatest satisfaction by studying under tremendous strain or cram, as it is called. This has little place in a medical course because the knowledge gained in each suc- cessive year is related, and if the foundation is poorly laid, the successive courses will, likewise, be poorly understood. Cram- ming frequently leads to other evils .... Help borrowers and help givers in tests of knowledge can only be given one appli- cation-despicable. They are disliked by fellow students and instructors. They harbor within their souls, degradation. Learn to rely upon your own resources. You will, as physicians, be expected to have self-reliance .... Be assured that you are embarked upon a serious undertaking. You have all had sufficient education and experience in schools of learning to realize that you haven't time to squander .... If you are threatened with scholastic difficulties, seek advice at once .... Distractions, such as financial troubles, illness in your family or yourself and love affairs, are the common and most potent causes for students' failures .... There is a common experience among people in general that it is not what you know that counts, but who you know. However, there are other courts of iudgment. The State and National Boards, with 'their impartial and impersonal attitude, are in- fluenced only by the candidate's ability to prove his worth. Then there is the court of public opinion where man must prove himself worthy of patronage. This is what you are preparing for and it is the function of this institution to see that you obtain the adequate preparation. The institution can serve you and the public only by the adherence to safe, sane, equable rules. It is dangerous to deceive ourselves and you about graduation from this institution. lt is highly desirable that you graduate, but it is essential that your graduation means the ability to cope with your undertakings. lllHl lIlASSlS llllill ....