New York University School of Medicine - Medical Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 11 text:

MEDICAL'VIOLETf1935 'D'l'l'l'P'D'l0009'D'D'l',Q'D'D'DGflfl'DQ00'Y'D'I'20'D'Y'DOG-I-D'li',-I-D'l'I 'I'10-,'!'l'l'D'D-D'D'l'l-100'l','l'D'l'P','l'l'D'l'D'l'D'D'l'D'l','l'l',','D D'lll',0'lQ00l,'l'D'l'li'l'l00'l9'DO I asked what qualities did he think helped one to become a good teacher. He replied, To be a good teacher a man must know his subject very well, be able to present it clearly, and catch the imagination of the student, he should be able to stimulate the student to further study. He added that some teachers stimulate by being irritating, and even that, in the absence of a better method, is acceptable as a means to an end. . lnevitably in any interview the question of a formula for success comes up. Dr. Wyckoff would offer no pattern for success, but suggested that common sense, knowl- edge and hard work in association with an attitude of human sympathy and progres- sion are invaluable in that connection. An important appointment of the Dean's made it necessary to continue the inter- view elsewhere and in keeping with his pleasant, informal manner, it was completed in his automobile during the frequent noisy waits between red and -green lights. He spoke about the future of the medical college, and predicted a great future for it. The greatest difficulty, he thought, lay in the building up of a clinical faculty. He hoped that some day soon we would have a private unit where doctors on the clinical faculty might admit their private patients. , Mrs. Magee, secretary to the Dean, was kind enough to give me complete informa- tion concerning Dr. Wyckoff's past history. He was born in Tindivinam, India, on November 12, 1881, son to John Henry Wyckoff, educator and missionary, and Emmeline Frances Loupp Bonney. He came to America at the age of four, but spent two more years in India six years later. He attended the Westjersey Academy at Bridgton, N. J., and matriculated at Rutgers University in 1901. Determined to become a physician, Dr. Wyckoff studied at our own medical college, where he was graduated in 1907. He was appointed to the house staff of Bellevue Hospital and served a two year interneship. The following year he spent in Germany in further medical study. In 1916 Dr. Wyckoff was appointed adjunct assistant visiting physi- cian to Bellevue Hospital, in 1919 he became assistant visiting physician, and in 1927 he was made visiting physician and director of the third CNew York UniversityD Medical Division of Bellevue Hospital. During the World War he served with the Bellevue unit-first as captain, then as major-and received a citation by General Pershing for distinguished and meritorious service at Vichy, in 1919. A His connection with the medical college began as Instructor in 1910, followed by the successive promotions to Clinical Professor in 1917, Associate Professor in 1927, and Professor of Medicine and Dean in 1932. Since 1910 Dr. Wyckoff has been en- gaged in active private practice. He was married in 1914 to Elizabeth Crane Porter of Claverack, and has three chil- dren: Elizabeth Porter, Cornelia Anne, and John Henry. He is a member of the Zeta Psi and Sigma Xi fraternities. ' The student body comes into contact with the Dean as a teacher in its third and fourth years. Viewing the lectures objectively, everyone finds them clear, thor- ough and stimulating. After a while, one begins to take the subject for granted- a healthy sign. The student body comes into contact with Dr. Wyckoff as Dean throughout its entire four years. Regardless of personal like or dislike, everyone seems to acknowledge him as an able progressive administrator who has tangibly improved our college. He follows the suggestion of Abraham Lincoln: Let ar have faith that right maker might and in that faith let ar to the emi dare to do ear datjf af we anaferrtand it. .na page 7 5...