Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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TEMPLE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN THE YEAR 1891 Dr. Conwell with his usual foresight acquired what was to be the nucleus of clinical teaching of Temple University Medical School. In addition he saved the North Philadelphia Hospital which had been started by a small group of physicians who now found it impossible to carry on because of the financial burden. In 1892 the Samaritan Hospital was dedicated under a new staff and in the following year a state charter was obtained. In 1896 a rear annex was built which doubled the number of beds, making a total of 40. Two years later the twin dwelling on the corner was added. The same year that the Medical Department was instituted Temple College was heir to another stroke of good fortune, for the state had made a grant which made possible the erection of a central building for administrative purposes as well as a North wing. With the recent affiliation with the medical school the staff v as reorganized, with Dr. I. Newton Snively as the medical dean and Dr. Wolfe and Dr. Boardman Reed the chief physicians, and Dr. Edmund Holmes as chief surgeon. Dr. W. Wayne Babcock had charge of obstetrics and gynecology. In 1903 Dr. Holmes resigned and Dr. Babcock became Surgeon-in-Chief and Dr. J. C. Applegate replaced Dr. Babcock as chief in Obstetrics, and assumed the Chair of Obstetrics in the school. With the aid of a 50,000 dollar state grant a two story South v ing was 25

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TEMPLE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE YEAR 1901 a small group of students, bound together by a common cause, finally saw their prime wish become a reality, for the trustees of Temple College had established an evening medical department which enabled these men to receive a medical education and still remain self supporting. This small and as yet untried department placed its fate in the hands of Dr. Fritz and a faculty of 20 professors, lecturers and demonstrators. A curriculum of five years with 700 hours of day time study was outlined. The original class of 31 students assembled in the main college building at Broad and Berks Streets, other times they met in spare rooms, basements and in lofts or any place at all in the old house which then formed the Samaritan Hospital. In 1904 two men who had been admitted with advanced standing formed the first graduating class. In 1905 two more similarly admitted formed the second class to graduate. With the passing of 1903 we find that Dr. I. Newton Snively was made dean. In 1906 a group of 14 was graduated. These were the first to receive their entire medical education in the Medical Department of Temple College. Another year of great advancement was 1907, for in that year by permission of the courts Temple College became Temple University and the Medical Department became the School of Medicine of Temple University. At about this same time it seemed wise to convert the School of Medicine into an improved day school and as a result a four year curriculum was instituted the last two years being day school. In 1909 Dr. F. C. Hammond became dean and started out on what was to be a 20 year campaign of untiring effort to obtain the much coveted A rating for the school. He began with a student body of 232 and a faculty of 80. Classes were then being held at 18th and Buttonwood Streets in the Philadelphia Dental College and the Garretson Hospital which had been added to Temple University in 1907. With the change of industrial plant locations Garretson Hospital was no longer necessary and with the transference of its departments it was refurnished, the upper three floors were equipped for Histology, Embryology, etc., and an anatomy dissecting room was established in the basement. With all of this advancement application was made to the A. M. A. for A rating but much to the disappointment of all it was refused. Subsequent to this refusal the entire Garretson Hospital was made into teaching space and in 1928 Dean Hammond was repaid by receiving A rating. The achievement of A rating marked a new era in the history of Temple University Medical School. 24

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built, thus bringing the total number of beds to 110. The basement of this wing was equipped for dispensary work. This brings us up to the year 1907 at which time the Garretson Hospital was acquired. It contained 75 beds and supplied a wealth of material especially along the line of traumatic surgery because of its close proximity to several large industrial plants. Between 1905 and 1915 besides acquiring Garretson Hospital, two floors and a roof garden were added to the Samaritan Hospital. In 1925 New Main was built bringing the total housing capacity to 235 as well as providing a new kitchen room, record room, amphitheatre and operating rooms. The Roosevelt medical wards were added in 1927 making a new total of 330. Finally in 1929, the Samaritan Hospital became Temple University Hospital. With the passing of time Garretson Hospital had served its usefulness and the maternity department was transferred to Great Heart Hospital which had been established in 1923 at 1810 Spring Garden Street. Many were the changes which followed and in 1930 Dr. Babcock along with some of his friends established the Babcock Surgical Ward of 40 beds. The year following Professor Chamberlain became head of the new Radiology Department which was constructed at a cost of about 150,000 dollars. In 1932 the Greatheart Service was discontinued and a new Maternity Department was established on the fourth floor of Temple Hospital. The capacity of this department was thirty-five. In this present year Temple Hospital boasts of a total of 449 beds and one of the finest teaching hospitals in the city. Records show that it accommodates an average of 327 patients daily.