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Ariel Jefferson History and Publications
3-1972
Ariel - Volume 4 Number 6
Rockey Weber Thomas Jefferson University
Forrest West Thomas Jefferson University
Arnold J. Willis Thomas Jefferson University
Bob Sklaroff Thomas Jefferson University
Eugenia Miller ThomasFollow this Jeff anderson additional University works at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/ariel Part of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, and the Medicine and Health
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Recommended Citation Weber, Rockey; West, Forrest; Willis, Arnold J.; Sklaroff, Bob; Miller, Eugenia; Sassani, Joe; Jackson, Laird G.; Berger, Joseph R.; Blumberg, Albert L.; Agnello, Jr., J. S.; Lehman, Thomas J.A.; Hoffman, Philip C.; Breckenridge, Jr., Robert; and Edinger, Gregory J., "Ariel - Volume 4 Number 6" (1972). Ariel. Paper 42. https://jdc.jefferson.edu/ariel/42
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Jefferson Digital Commons. The Jefferson Digital Commons is a service of Thomas Jefferson University's Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The Commons is a showcase for Jefferson books and journals, peer-reviewed scholarly publications, unique historical collections from the University archives, and teaching tools. The Jefferson Digital Commons allows researchers and interested readers anywhere in the world to learn about and keep up to date with Jefferson scholarship. This article has been accepted for inclusion in Ariel by an authorized administrator of the Jefferson Digital Commons. For more information, please contact: [email protected]. Authors Rockey Weber; Forrest West; Arnold J. Willis; Bob Sklaroff; Eugenia Miller; Joe Sassani; Laird G. Jackson; Joseph R. Berger; Albert L. Blumberg; J. S. Agnello, Jr.; Thomas J.A. Lehman; Philip C. Hoffman; Robert Breckenridge, Jr.; and Gregory J. Edinger
This newsletter is available at Jefferson Digital Commons: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/ariel/42 ,,..---.------··------~------· -----·~-
VOL. 4 NO. 6 MARCH, 1972 .
·Kraatz Laut(hs Last Is Pass-Fail Grading Fad or lmprov,ement ? by Rockey Weber Pharmy. His perspicacity at : injecting even the most mundane of pharmocology lectures with a by Forrest West pass/ fail grading system is that compete against them · small dose of wit goes unrivaled For several years, the Student it \\'.Ould replace the ·external (Fun¥nstein, 1968). here at Jefferson. It is estimated Curriculum Committee has compulsion of grades with self- Written Evaluations that the 66-year-old New Yorker advocated a change from the motivation. It would make and Relevant Testing has put forth close to 7500 one present numerical grading ~owledge of the subject more Besides the change in student liners and assorted poems, system to a system of hon- unportant and rewarding to the attitudes, a pass/ fail system anecdotes, puns, and/ or jokes ors/ pass/ fail or pass/ fail. student than the achievement of a would. place greater emphasis on since his arrival at Jefferson in Students would continue to be good grade. Since practicing the written evaluations . on a 1947. Some good, some fair, and tested and subsequently shown doctors do not receive numerical student's official transcript. A some even rhyming with his last the correct answers and the grades for their performance, it .. -·Written evaluation would give a name. passing score in order to evaluate . · ~ould appear to be important to more meaningful and accurate Checking into Dr, Parry their performance. At the end of increase the student's level of description of the student's Kraatz's (he prefers Parry to a course under the pass/ fail self-motivation during medical performance in a course than a Charles) educational back grading system, the department school. single numerical grade. Even if ground, we find it diverse. In 1926 would tell the registrar whether Without numerical grading the numerical grade is ac he graduated with a B.A. in the student had passed or failed. and. subsequent class ranking, a companied by a reliability English from Berea College. He In addition, the registrar would pass/ fail grading system would coefficient for that course in obtained a M.S. in Zoology at the receive a written evaluation of reduce the present competition order to estimate the student's University of Kentucky and the student's performance. between students for grades. The "true score," potential em- followed that with a doctorate S~H-Motivation future doctor shJuld cooperate ployers looking at a transcript thesis on "The Physiology of The primary advantage of a with other students rather than would probably focus only on .9 single reported score and the · "What do you mean that 't Bil~y-Goat . Anti-serum" at the · , . funny ?" wasn Umversity of Cincinnati. a r es .. u r a t class ranking which it produces. Ch I K A pass/ fail grading system Ch p - · · Presently at the age of · 1 ·1· Jeff would also encourage a change Profe::O:~f ph::-:Jacol~~a~~zd retire~ent, . we . fin~ th~t Dr. S· a k S a from the present norm-ref er.- wizard of the "one -liners,~' has Kraa~z s education l~ still ex Pe by Bob Sklaroff enced testing (i.e., grading on a decided to retire after 25 years of pandmg .. He was ~arned for the I really wish you could passionate, unsullied by curve) to a criteriOn-referenced service to the Jefferson com- second time last time last J~ly , have been along these last arrogance or hostility towards testing, in which a certain munity. His departure will l 1 ~71 to a pretty Czechoslovakian a gap in .the core curric etve girl ~horn he met at a scientific four years, just wandering other people or delusions ;. or minimum amount of information · · u um meetmg around the country, sailing superiority or motives of greed. would have to be mastered in which even the Student Master I k. d D . I have found much to be order to pass a course. One Planning Committee will be hard as e r. Kraatz if, afte~ a with the lobster fishermen in comforted and reassured medical school · department pressed to fill. . quar~e; centur.y as an active Maine, visiting a grist mill · h' .,, administrator m the Jefferson i .M l d about. . . w 1ch experimented with these over n ary an . • tour.ing 4' paint · im · ·~ wi.. not be--eaey t~ forget the- Pro'Cess, he would exp1'ess~ his K.M'tllt one-room schoolhouse in pressionist view of America for m~me.. - K~~atz - which rh.ymes outlooks on two current topics: examin~a~t~io~n~s~fo!u~nt~~t~a ~t ~~~~~"~~~~~~~ with rots as he S? succmctly namely, curriculum change ·and Louisiana. talking with Black his Jefferson University Hour "assisted the faculty in con- tells you on the first day of students' attitudes. men and ·women on the audience in February. A richly ceptualizing course objectives, Concerning curriculum streets of Atlanta, Chinese- colorful, carefully styled, op- helped clarify faculty ex- changes, he muses: Americans in San Francisco, timistic summary of our culture pectation of student per- Counter Attack "Everyone is aware of. the M ex i can -A mer i cans in and where it is moving. He formance, improved the quality mass rush to change . the Texas, and you know, sheep discussed six "concerns" he of department examinations, and curriculum - no one is sure to herders and what, farmers harbors for the future. improved the identification and what, but the impetus toward and steel workers -and Judging from the applause at counseling of nonpassing stu- Enters Phase II change of some sort is awesome. students -- the end, Kuralt's speech seemed dents. . .This seems ·to have Just hearing people talk in to captivate not only by its wit, resulted in examination by Arnold J. Willis I have been unable to discern where the pressures are being all the varied accents of organization, content, and in- questions germaine to the real generated, certainly not' by America about their lives, sight, but also by it's constant issues of the course rather than Let me make one thing per their aspirations for them- reliance upon personal ex- questions related to the fectly clear. The Vener eal recent graduates and probably periences to illustrate what could peripheral content" (Taylor et Disease Counter Attack program not by the average medical selves, and their families and have been a boring sociology al., 1971 ). With Jefferson's planned for April is gaining student. I do have the feelingthat their country. · · lecture. present emphasis on a core momentum and will proceed as somewhere are overwhelming Americans are proud of (Anyone interested in curriculum, it would appear to be planned. To many people who desires to insert the clinical their country. They suffer listening to a tape-recording of important to establish the core were initially interested in the finger lower in the academic wounds when she is wounded. -Kuralt's comments may contact amount which a student is ex drive and who did not maintain anatomy." .. They seek for leadership. . . Professor Robert T. Lentz, pected to learn, as weil as the contact this seems somewhat of a Referring to student at (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 4) surprise. However, Phase I has titudes: been nearly completed and with " The change has been I really wish you could~ t ~· JlI • spectacular success. dramatic. F'rom an almost _have been ~long.:. . . ren · t5nt55e5 ttSttans To date, many Philadelphia masochistic pride in gobbling up Is ours a sick society? Are we ' ~ everything put on the platter high schools and even junior high Alienated? schools have been entered by labeled 'Education' by · the ~;,'r~~?cent? trsortal Jrohltms medical students who have taken f acuity, the present attitude To answer these questions, by Eugenia M'll over the hygiene classes and seems to me almost to bespeak a suggests ~harles Kuralt, ."Listen Will you be~ · : d dd' t delivered the-facts to the pupils. fear of learning .too much and to A1?,1er1cans tell th~1r own divorce your s;u:e~ b;':,~ou~c ' ~~~~i~~~Y :~t a=~~~e :::e~;~ ~! The feedback received from the perhaps too soon. The position fstory. Kuralt has doned t JUSt f that,CBS M· D · '?· ,,, Dr. Ro ber t L. Bren, ty willing to involve himself and has changed from medical administration, faculty and, most ;~w~s ;e ~:e=:n ~ ~[e~ers Prof.essor of Pediatrics and of . with his patients. "Why did I importantly from the public education being the Number One thing in a man's life for four "On the Road" throughout the Radiology, _ ad~esse~ thes~ and become so uneasy when John school students themselves, has United States. ?,ther questions m a 'discussion of Jones told me his symptoms of been overwhelming. Yet, it is too years, often to the exclusion of everything else, to the-stance that His features tell more than the Pe~s?na~, Problems ~f the ulcerative colitis? Am I as ~ early to slow down the attempt to story of a man with a dozen jobs Physician, at the University guarded and hostile as he when I educate the populace. many other interests may be as important or even more im or the story of the construction of ~our F.ebruary 9 an~h .-- , ~_. :.: i~ ' ,~ : r.~ Lt ~~~~ i: !rJi }~~·~~;t~ ~~~,; ~;~Ji~~ff3lJinued v on;pag~ ~> MARCH, 1972 ARI EL PAGE 3 textbook to supplement his Promotions Conunittee that has personal motivating factors, one knowledge on the common been meeting and discussing the also encourages a lax attitude .. diseases in question, as had been problem in secrecy. Their final Lastly, the heated competition recommended, he replied, report is due to come out soon. which is of ten . blamed upon the "Who's got the time? I mean, the This abominable situation must grading system is created and material on the tests col]l.es only be corrected now, before more per petuated by the students from the handouts and the lee- minds are turned off from the · themselves. The medical student tures. I've got to study that." study of medicine. Therefore, we is no longer· competing with. his How much longer must we put now call for the immediate in neighbor ·for an ultimate goal p up with a system that pays only stitution of Pass-Faii at Jef since he has entered a field in I L lip service (if even that) to the ferson. We ask the entire student which he will always be iJ).. idea of studying for the sake of body to support this endeavor. demand. Competition, then, has knowledge; that- reinforces the The Student Curriculum become a personal factor which student who studies for the grade Conunittee has started the ball is only as intense as the student and thus condones such a rolling. Their multi-proned :nakes it for himself. The first practice; and that has faculty . strategy for dealing with this man in the class and the last will The Case for, Pass-Fail members stating that they really situation includes -a survey of the both be called "Doctor"-if each To the editors: returned graded, seemed to don't want to give numerical Freshman and Sophomore is personally satisfied with his It's about time' that Jefferson many of us not to have been read grades, but since they must...; classes. A sour_c;;e l}igh in the performance, that is. all that take its place among the ranks of at all (deduced on the basis of the and everyone is left feeling un- administration has indicate
Kraatz -_Laughs rcontinued from page n ::·ii··· sets the best apart from the North Pole. " crowd. To have'done this~ as well Biggie Number Four: "An shop, inc. as be a friend, is indeed a rare Australian returned to his achievement." London Club after many years Well, no article about C.P. and found only an elderly and Kraatz would be complete prim-looking man in the lounge. without a few of his finest. Dr. Said the Aussie, "Excuse me, Sir. Kraatz assured me that the I'm a· stranger and lonely and I following were some of his real wonder would you have a drink "biggies!" with me?" " No,thanks," said the Biggie Nwnber One_: Two Old Boy, "tried it once and didn 't hogs were watching a girl eating like it." The Aussie tried again. a ham sandwich. "That's Henry "Well, would you smoke a cigar she's eating," said one. "Yes, I with me? " "No, thanks," ® guess so," said the other. "He repeated the old man, "tried it . was a gentleman to the very end once and didn't like it." The A Stanley Kubrick Production ·· A CLOCKWORK ORANGE '·. Starring Malcolm McDowell · Patrick Magee . Adrienne Corn 1-129 PINE ST; . --always giving his seat to a Aussie, not discouraged, and Minam Karlon · Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick . Based on the novel by Anth ony Burgess . Produced and Directed by Stanley Kubrick ; hecut1veProducers Ma~ L Raa b and Si Utvinoff ·From Warner Bros lady." suggested billiards. "Sorry, don't A MilGRIM THEATRE l&th St bet Biggie Number Two: "What's play," said the Old Boy, "tried it Chestnut WA 3-8799 yellow and lies on its back?" "A once and didn 't like it. But my son and Markel tired school bus. " will be along soon. He will enjoy a LO 3-2775 Biggie Number Three: game, I'm sure." The "~at's bh~ e • ~~the New York Times the Metnodist church and runs such voices.•• Citizens must be computerization to the point of "insensitivity to human need, ::;itting on my coffee table and I the Girl Scout troop. As well as encouraged to consider the dehumanization. "I need a greed, power, politics, fear, and throw them all out. . .It's commuting 60 miles to med problems of the environment, number to put down here.'' Hotel conservatism. ' ~ refreshing for the soul." school, he teaches American women's lib, racism, politics, clerks demand a driver's license Washington attacks the Can any political campaign be effective without reliance upon Citizenship classes, runs a high bureaucracy and ·consumer before allowing anyone to check universities- whil~ the real school for dropouts and donates ethics. in. A name simply won't do. · p roblems cire racism, television? Yes ~ Kuralt cited the time to the " Neighborhood We are grappling more ( 3) Government ac- powerlessness, pollution, organizational skill of one of his Center." The water system is seriously than· before with cumulation of information on ex-classmates, Allard Loewen poverty, racism, ugliness, stein of New York, to whom many · rotting out and the city won't fix fundamental problems in our private citizens. "A debasement and war. it, so now he's planning to run for lives. of the Constitution! '' This process give the responsibility of having water commissioner. is accelerating, and the blame Q&A "dumped Johnson." "Are we ignorant? Then you'll Having dispelled the notion rests with the military, FBI and When asked to comment on have to explain Patty Nelson to that a massive "Silent Majority" Attorney General. the "crisis of leadership" we now It doesn ~ t take too many me." Kuralt described how exists in the United States, Kuralt face, Kuralt was speechless for a years for people to see 1984 is twelve short years young and old interact in Santa nevertheless · refused to ignore few seconds, and then concurred. through the slick Madison Cruz, California, a college town our problems. awav! ".I don't think the very best A venue campaigns and I see ( 4) Overpopulation and the people have been thrown on top of and retirement village. Kuralt's Concerns Environment. "The standing evidence that this has already "If you think about it, you He is worried ·about six the political heap in the~ last few occurre~ in this_country. know people like I'm characteristics of American life. room-only day is coming." Dallas years. . .Americans get tired of freeways are choking. The land is How does he get ideas for his describing." (1) Casual Inhumanity. The searching for rainbows." littered. The water is con ~: "On the Road" reports? Half taminated. The forests are Every once in a while, from letters, and the rest he stripped. "The hillsides are leaders are elected who can "runs into" while traveling or he ·skinned- and- ,raped y ... strip . be c9unted upon to give us a "steals indiscriminately". from miners and terraced by un rest. other media sotirees. scrupulous land developers. The last few · questions con National monuments are cerned the media and Kuralt' s destroyed .. despoiled for private work. He was asked whether his Alumni gain." · view of America was weighted (Continued from page 2) (5) Malnutrition. ".! An offense disproportionately in the To Dr. Luscombe it is more to God.". Nothing much· has di("ection of the rural populace. important that a member of the changed since the broadcast of In .lieu of a direct reply, he J.M.C. faculty be interested in his acclaimed "Hunger in discussed the city-dweller. advancing the clinical reputation America" television program,· a "People. in the midwest think of of the medical college than that number _of years ago ." Doctors New York as a Gomorrah, wbere he be an alumnus of J.M.C. And ·have a special ;fesponsibility to · you can be shot dead if you walk in the same spirit when:asked of PHOTO GREY; SUN LENSES . TINTED LENSES, BIFOCALS, TRIFOCALS . try to · bring health care to the down the street. This isn't true, he thought Alumni representa SAVEWITH and urban private life is just as tives might be helpful on the EASTERN OPTICAL INC. many areas in which none is IASTRN'S ...... , ..... available . rich and rewarding as that of various faculty committees, he LOWPlllCE ..·--- ,.., ...... ·. -Optw ·a~J.- POUcY ,,...... ( 6) "Melanoma of the spirit." anyone else.'' · replied, " Yes, it might be very Why is the news so helpful, if alumni were on such S.E. COl}Oth It OtESTNUT 4521 FllANICFOltOAYE. People feel powerless to effect Mon~ Wed. Fri. •to9 Doil~ 9 to 5: 30; Mon. & change because of the affliction depressing? Disclaiming any committees but not just a Wed. 9to9: Sot. 9to SclOMA 7-1 660 t...._ 1hu"'"9to6;Sot. •to6 JE J-9595 of an . unresponsive and in responsibility for its existence, representative of the wishes of sensitive government. _ Kuralt stated flatly that it has to · the Alumni Association but · Federal Leadership be covered. "Maybe this, too, is rather to seek the good of J .M.C. Kuralt claims that Congress part of the American Malaise . . as a whole. ''
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7244 CASTOR AV • •@:•BANKAMERICAAD. 1105 WALNUT WPPH& FREE PARK IN,~ , . r j c~ "' . 'f il i ! , . IL ------PAGES ARIEL MARCH. 1972 financial status of their patients, Brent Discusses- attempting to justify their ac- voters, the Americans for 1s· Service Denied ? physicians might be induced to (Continued from page 1) tions. Brent - emphasized that Democratic Action, or Common TO: err -on the side of so-called trap of mvestmg money m stock systems for health care delivery cause. She might become Clinic Chiefs, Curtis fin~mcial .wisdom . and in the without firsthand information. A and payment must be c:Qanged, engaged ,in developing a day Clinic process render substandard word to the wise: don't always that changes are not likely to care center. service to that patient. trust your stock broker. come from the existing medical unrortunately, Brent did FROM: . The quoted statistics . are Brent's discussion of self-edu- power structures, that ideas, not discuss or even acknowledge · Max Goodman, irrelevant to the question at hand. cation was a discussion of self- . criticism, and pressure change the existence of problems a Manager The relevant statistics are the discipline. According to Brent, must be exerted from outside the physician might have with her Outpatient Services number of times doctors have most M.D.s have developed the established medical profession, husband or problems physicians been called by the registrar and self-discipline they· will employ · by students and by community might have as husband and wife. In an effort to improve the number of patients who have the rest of their lives by the time groups. With regard to children, Brent the financial posture· of been refused service. If the they reach medical school. This Though many might question stressed the need for discipline, the Curtis Clinic, Hospital j>atients who are refuse~ service self-discipline enables the doctor Brent's belief that the purpose of not discipline of the Victorian Administration has in- miraculously come up with the to spend nights in the library marriage is protection of authoritarian variety, but structed me to implement money, then· the directive is learning about his patient's children, few would question his reasonable, predictable the following procedure having the desired effect. More illness when he might rather belief that self-giving and mutual discipline. Brent stressed the with regard to AncHlary likely, however, the patients are spend the evening relaxing at respect must be the basis of a significance of parent example. Services: either not getting the tests or are home. Brent warns against lasting marriage. Brent focused Chjldren are preceptive and will going to Pennsylvania Hospital buying too many journals. "You his discussion of marriage on learn from what their parents do .When ancillary services or to the inadequate Philadelphia won't read them and you won't be those aspects which produce- wh ether it contradicts or con- requested appear to be ex- General Hospital. able to find the articles you want special conflict for the M.D. He firms what they say. cessive las a general rule To allay any fears of being to read." ____ discussed how a physician might In discussing "Personal formore self-paying than a total -clinic of_$20.00) patients __ · -misrepresemea ouc orfontexf,____ HOw- w1· 11 you fmance" your "outgrow" his wife. The wife at Pro bl ems of the Physician" in the entire memorandum is practice? In order to make a home taking care of the children two hours, Brent necessarily . who cannot --pay cash for at reprinted below, with the living, if you charge $4 per visit does not have the opportunity for presented only the highlights of least SO% of the charges or previously omitted portions in (Curtis Clinic rate), you will self-growth and development that the more significant problems. who have delinquent ac- italics. either have to see more patients the husband has in dealing each Much of what he talked about was counts, the Registrar has We are sympathetic to the than you adequately can care for, day with patients and fellow based on · personal experience, been directed to call the financial crisis 'which Curtis or give too many appointments. physicians and in attending personal opinion, and personal physician 9rdering the Clinic and the entire health care Perhaps instead you will give B12 seminars and conferences. Brent moral standards, but such is the tests(s) to deterine if the delivery system is undergoing. · injections, become an obesity did not, however, point out that nature of personal problems. tests(s) can be delayed -1.lntil We also recognize the fact that specialist, or give up entirely the wife could just as easily Though Brent's discussion might the patient is able to make Curtis Clinic - pro-rates its and, as did one Jefferson "outgrow" the husband. If be criticized for such in- satisfactory arrangements charges on ability to pay and graduate, hypnotize your working, she may grow through completeness or bias, it must for payment. accepts DPA patients at only $4 patients to perform immoral contacts in her own work · or nevertheless be highly com- The cooperation of the per visit. sexual acts with you. Many orofession. If her interests arP. mended because it tackled those Clinic Chiefs and per- However, any policy of deficiencies exist in the current not confined to a limited field but issu~s which are seldom sonnel authorized to order harassing either physicians or medical payment system. Such her husband's are or if she has discussed in a medical school, but ancillary services is patients is unlikely to solve deficiencies encourage more "free time" than he, she which, by influencing a essential in order to Jefferson's financial problems. development of bad doctors who may develop far beyond him. She physician's life and style, very facilitate this program. Richard Blutstein become even l~ss ade~uate as might grow, for instance, through definitely influence the life and they expend their psych1~ energy joining the League of Women health of his patients. To: ARIEL From: Max Goodman, Manager Outpatient Services
Reference is made to the article by Richard Blutstein in your February issue. To set the record straight it was not the intent of the directive to reduce any essential service. It is inconceivable to me that clinic doctors could be "intimidated to the point of rendering sub standard service'' by cooperating with the contents of the memorandum. At no time is a necessary service denied- a patient at Jefferson because of inability to pay. The need for any procedure is a professional determination and resides ultimately with the · clinic physician. Al though I don't feel that this article should be headed "Curtis Clinic Increases Its Service to the Poor," it would certainly be nearer the truth in view of the fact that there were .47 ancillary services provided each clinic'"Patient in December, 1971 as compared to .40 in . November, 1971 , an increase of 20%. The quotation from the memorandum, though accurate, is taken out of context in that the - preceding paragraph in the memorandum did explain the reason for the procedural change and the concluding paragraph, none of which were quoted, Solicited the cooperation of in volved personnel. The headline to the article is a good eye catcher in that it draws the attention to its content. However, it is totally inconsistent with Mr. 1Uutstein's - conclusions that services to the poor are being reduced.
Author's Reply: · Perhaps the intent of the directive was not to reduce services to the poor; however, if the memorandum· is fully en forced, it will have the effect of reducing services while not improving the financial situation. Most of the expenses involved in delivering ancillary services are the amortized costs of maintaining the clinic and staff and do not.rise or fall appreciably with a changing patient load. Reducing patient services will nofbring about a corresponding reduction in costs. If clinic doctors are badgered by chronic calls from the registrar concerning the