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

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PRESIDENT SHOBER ON HAHNEMANN AND THE HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM Your graduation comes at a very signifi- cant time - our Bicentennial Year. This country has seen enormous strides in health care, many of them originating here in Philadelphia, but l believe you will see more changes in your lifetime than have been seen during all of our two hundred years. The accelerating rate of new knowledge and change will require all of you to main- tain your evident desire and ability to learn. Whether you choose clinical prac- tice, teaching or research you will have to continue your established pattern of study- ing and learning to keep up with these changes. The one attribute that exemplifies the medical profession is their dissatisfac- tion with the dogma of today. Hahnemann has recognized this need to change and adjust by our flexible curricu- lum program, by our cooperative medical education programs to help train family physicians for practice in rural areas of our state fthe Pennsylvania Planj, by our new replacement Hospital and by many other activities. We hope these examples of building on the good and, concurrently, trying new methods to improve the deliv- ery of health care, will carry through to your own performance in your chosen field. Good luck to each of you and God speed. lx Wharton Shober President and Chief Executive Cfficer

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7 1 XS N gs ' E If ,, .mm , -3'- Q - F EDIC 1976 THE HAHNEMANN MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL EDITORS ASSOCIATE EDITORS ASSISTANT EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ARTWORK YEARBOOK WILLIAM M. SI-IAPIRO LARRY A. WOLK TOBY 1. BRISKIN OLIVIA T. DI MAGGIO DAVID T. ESTROFF RICHARD ADLER DEBORAH K. MCCURDY NEIL S. MOGIL GARY P. SCHELL RONALD 1. WEBER STEVEN BLOCK ARNOLD ELLIS ROSE FITCHETT KENNETH HARM ARNOLD I. SOLOF MELVIN C. WHITE IOHN P. SLOVAK LARRY H. GOLDBERG

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DEAN DiPALMA ON THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN MEDICINE In past years this final message to you as you embark upon your careers has covered such topics as medical ethics, continuing ed- ' I' ucation and making the most of your poten- A V, tials. This year I have some words on some I 0, curious anomolies of medical economics. Quite a few years ago it was generally agreed that one did not go into medicine to make money. lt was universally true that while most doctors eventually made a com- fortable living few attained the degree of wealth possible in business and industry. The physician worked hard for what money he did make - an 80 to 90 hour work week was customary. Indeed he was required to spend many working hours doing free work in public clinics and other charitable ven- tures. Interns and residents were not paid and after post graduate training it usually took 10 years to begin to make a decent liv- ing. Despite these disadvantages most doc- tors were happy with their choice of a pro- fession. Today a net income of S100,000 annually or more, is more frequent than not for the fam- ily practitioner. He makes few or no house calls and rarely works more than 50 hours a week. I-Ie is the envy of engineers, lawyers, physicists and even business men and in- dustrialists. The main reason for this medical economic advantage is the great expansion of medical services created by medicare and third party financing in the face of a physician shortage. As long as the billions spent for medical care increase faster than the number of new physicians entering practice this favorable situation will continue. Certainly the present graduating class will enjoy this economic advantage. I-Ioweverf it will not last forever. An anxious public is looking with a jaundiced eye at soaring med- ical costs. The income of the physician will be brought more in line with other professions especially as the relative shortage decreases. As physicians I envisage for you the practice of your profession as an intellectual adventure far surpassing mere monetary gain. Despite the materialism of our age, medicine still remains as a hallmark of scholarship. This by no means restricted to medical science, but also to the societal and human problems of our complex environment. There is no greater elevation of the spirit than the satisfaction of having made some advancement, however small, which adds to the greater body of knowledge. This is a gem worth seeking rather than the gold dust which buys only tinsel. Then, I wish all of you professional success - the satisfaction of sewing your fellow man. If this brings you economic gain that's wonderful, but remember that it should not be your prime objective. With all good wishes. '34 joseph R. DiPalma, M.D. Vice President and Dean lu