West Virginia University School of Medicine - Pylon Yearbook (Morgantown, WV)

Page 10 text:

The History of the West Virginia University School of Medicine EDWARD J. VAN LIERE, M.S., M. D. , Ph. D. , Liu. D. , Dean Emeritus On February 3, 1867, the State Legislature created an Agricultural College of West Virginia. This institution opened its doors in September, 1868. The following year the name was changed to West Virginia Uni- versity. One year later, namely, in 1869, a distinguished Morgantown physician, Hugh Workman Brock, M. D. , taught a course in Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene. Since that time, that is, for 94 years, there has always been at least one man on the faculty who held the M. D. degree. In the early nineties the medical classes were held in Woodburn Hall. From 1893-1904 dissection was done in a small building which rejoiced in the name of the Hick House. It was located in Falling Run just north of Woodburn Hall. In 1904, a building known as Fife Cottage was acquired and was occupied for 12 years. It stood where the University cafeteria now stands. In 1916, a three -story building was erected on Beechurst Avenue, opposite to where the Field House now stands, at a cost of $18, 000. It served a most useful purpose for 41 years although it became inadequate shortly after it was built. It was demolished in the summer of 1957. A two-year School of Medicine was formally organized in 1902. It remained a two-year school until 1960. Through- out the years many serious attempts were made by the University administration to create a four-year curriculum, but none of these was successful. On March 9, 1951, however, the State Legislature passed a bill (House Bill No. 477) which read in part: The Board of Governors is hereby authorized, and, as soon as funds shall be available for the purpose, is directed to establish and main- tain in the university a four-year school of medicine, dentistry and nursing . . . The development of a four-year medical school was favored by many citizens. It must always be remembered, how- ever, tha t the most active group was the West Virginia State Medical Association. Aid was given by other health groups, such as dentists, nurses, and pharmacists. Many lay groups, too, helped. At the time the enabling act was passed by the State Legislature, the population of the state was somewhat less than 2,000, 000. The Medical Center was developed on a 145 acre tract, and was financed by a tax on soft drinks, the so-called Pop tax. In essence, this amounts to a penny on each bottle of soft drink (soft drink syrups are also taxed). The first year the tax was in effect, it produced a revenue of $2,939,674. During the past several years, the net income from the tax has averaged about 3. 5 million dollars annually. „,--■ -« ' ' j H. ' ti K jj, i ' ;, -» .-y lit, CPgf t B ' ., ...

Page 9 text:

Dedication The year 1963 is symbolic for West Virginia residents. It is the year during which West Virginia celebrates its one-hundredth anniversary of state- hood, a year in which tribute is given those who have appreciably benefited the state by their serv- ice. For those of us associated with the medical profession, 1963 is doubly significant, for it is also representative of the era during which medical education in the state has grown to maturity. It is fitting, then, that we, the second graduating class of physicians at West Virginia University, dedicate this first edition of THE FIFTH PYLON to one who has been of significant benefit to the state by being an integral part of the growth and development of West Virginia medical education. Such a person is the Dean of the Medical School, Clark K. Sleeth, M.D. Dr. Sleeth was born, reared and received most of his education in West Virginia. After attaining AB and BS degrees from WVU, he joined the Physi- ology Department, being absent during the interim 1935-1938 while working toward an M.D. degree at the University of Chicago. Following graduation from medical school. Dr. Sleeth returned to WVU as a member of the Department of Pathology. During World War II he served in the Air Force and at the end of the war, he joined the Department of Medi- cine. In 1958, he was appointed Assistant to the Dean of the Medical School, and in January, 1961, he succeeded Edward J. Van Liere, M. D. , as Dean. To the state of West Virginia, Dr. Sleeth has been more than the Dean of their Medical School, as was attested to by the West Virginia Medical As- sociation when they awarded him their ' Presidential Citation, ' for devoted public service to his com- munity and State. To this graduating class, he has also been more than a Dean. He has been our teacher, advisor, and friend. We are therefore proud to dedicate this yearbook to Dr. Clark K. Sleeth.

Page 11 text:

THE BASIC SCIENCE BUILDING OF WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, 1957 The Basic Science Building was completed in 1957 at a cost of $13,782,625 including fixed equipment. It was occupied on July 1, 1957, and classes were started in September of that year. The 522 bed-hospital was completed in 1960 at a cost of $15,897,777 which also included fixed equipment. It was opened for patients in August, 1960. When the school opened, about 150 beds were in use; the following year, it was increased to 250. Presently, approximately 300 beds are available. An outstanding clinical faculty was recruited, so that all major clinical departments save psychiatry, were represented by a full-time chairman and several members of his staff before September, 1960. The first class of third-year students, 16 in number, was enrolled in September, 1960, and the first class graduated in June, 1962. The School of Medicine has had three deans: John N. Simpson, M. D. , who served from 1902-1935; Edward J. Van Liere, Ph.D., M. D. , from 1935-1961; and Clark K. Sleeth, M. D. , who became dean on January 1, 1961. The citizens of the state are to be highly commended for establishing the Medical Center, one of the finest in the land. The development of such a facility is a costly project. It is believed that all the essentials for modern medical education and practice have been provided for the state. The Medical Center should be able to serve adequately the health and educational needs of the citizens of the state.