University of Maryland School of Medicine - Terrae Mariae Medicus (Baltimore, MD)

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Corps Reserve and to enter active duty to- gether at the time of mobilization. A meet- ing of the faculty in Chemical Hall accepted the invitation and a committee was ap- pointed to select personnel. In October 1940, the Surgeon General authorized the formation of a hospital unit to care for 1,000 patients. This was desig- nated the 42nd General Hospital, retaining the same number as the base hospital which had represented the university in the first World War. By January 1941, a cadre had been formed and personnel commissioned in sur- gical, medical and dental services. Recruit- ing of nurses began in December, 1941, and ninety were finally selected, ten still mem- bers of the senior class, who graduated in mid-Pacific in June . The unit was activated in the Spring of 1942 and Dr. Pincoffs was named com- mander, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. The group was split into two 500 bed hos- pitals, the offspring being designated the 42nd General Hospital in Australia in World War II. 26

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Construction of new University Hospital, 1933. 000 was available, a bequest from Dr. Frank C. Bressler, for the construction of a medical research building. The Bressler Research Building was first opened in the summer of 1939 and its six stories were put to immediate use. That same summer, Dr. Rowland retired and Dr. H. Boyd Wylie, Professor of Biological Chemistry, was named acting dean. THE ROAD TO AUSTRALIA The clouds of war were again rolling over Europe and preparations were begun in America in the event of involvement. In May of 1940 the School of Medicine was invited by the War Department to form a provisional group to function as the nucleus of an army hospital. The members of the unit were to be commissioned in the Medical Finally, it was in this year that money was granted by the state for the erection of a new hospital. Work began in June of 1933 on the southwest comer of Redwood Greene Streets and the first patient was admitted in November, 1934. The 400 bed capacity, ten story building cost $1.2 mil- lion. At the same time, a campaign was ini- tiated among the alumni to raise $170,000 to re-equip and convert the old hospital building into an out-patient clinic. The new hospital wrought many changes in the routine of the students. Ward work was increased and less time was spent in formal lectures. For the first time, hospital births exceeded home deliveries. Facilities for up-to-date surgery and radiology were provided and for the first time students were able to take advantage of a large number of out-patients. Research at the university, hitherto on a small scale, received great impetus by the announcement in June of 1937 that $500,- Col. Maurice C. Pincoffs, M.D. 25

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Frank C. Bressler Research Building 27