The AMC Experience Still Growing

(She Albany Hetitral Nrnta Vol. 1, No. 1 The Student Newspaper of Albany Medical College Albany, N.Y., Tuesday, September 5,1978 AMA Student Section Reorganization Effected Debakey, “Aortocoronary-Artery By ARTHUR W. PERRY ’81 Bypass: Assessment After 13 The Student Business Section years,” which appeared in JAM A (SBS) of the American Medical February 27, 1978. Both speakers Association convened for its treated the students to a frank annual meeting on Saturday debate, which at times became morning, June 17th, at the Chase- heated to the point of viciousness. Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis, AMA-SBS vs. AMSA Missouri. The SBS is composed The second segment of the of representatives from each of meeting was the Business Session. the US Medical Schools. Its Following the traditional opening purpose is to give students direct remarks, which included a report input to the workings or that students are now permitted organized medicine via their one to attend the AMA Board of representative who is a voting Trustees meetings, a lengthy and member of the AMA House of somewhat heated discussion on Delegates, the legislative body of the internal structure of the SBS the Association. Any member of was held. The controversy the SBS may submit a resolution centered around the amount of which is then discussed and voted input to the SBS that the on by the SBS. If approved, it is American Medical Student then introduced for consideration Association (AMSA), a separate by the House. organization, should have. The SBS meeting was divided Previously, AMSA had appointed into three segments. The first three of the five officers of the included a debate/discussion on SBS while the, remaining two Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery were elected. Although this (CAB), which has become a procedure assures close Photo by J. A. Glenn, Albany. national issue. A recent study by cooperation between the two the Veteran’s Administration groups, it is not a democratic Albany Medical College in 1928; known today as the ‘J Building.' The entrance faces west questioned its efficacy, and the process. A compromise was and dates back to the 19th century. The stairway has been replaced since this photo was taken. ensuing debate has involved not reached whereby AMSA would only the medical profession, but retain its three seats on the the public as well. CAB surgery Governing Council, but that the now consumes 1 percent of the SBS would elect four, rather than nation’s health resources and is two officers, thereby depriving The AMC Experience still growing. Thomas Preston, AMSA of majority control, but M.D., Co-Chief, Division of maintaining their input. Many Cardiology, USPHS Hospital and SBS members still felt AMSA Associate Professor of Medicine, A 50-YEAR PERSPECTIVE was overrepresented by this plan University of Washington, but, nevertheless, it was represented the opposition to the By PAUL Z. SIEGEL,’81 movies, picnics, and welcoming hour of cut and dry lecture in ME successfully instituted. A small talks- a forty-eight hour fantasy 500; day after day of frantically bypass surgery. He stated that the Summer has ended. You’ve group of medical students have which you may also be able to trying to copy down miniscule still unproven procedure was made the trip to Albany and find promised to remedy the inequities delude yourself into believing will facts which you know are in the nevertheless widely accepted. Dr. yourself within the confines of the of this plan by submitting a never end and during which just text books but which out of fear Preston presented many of the Albany Medical Coliege, proposal to AMSA which would about every member of the class you find yourself scribbling arguments which appear in his unfamiliar with the surroundings, call for the election, not will quip,“And they said medical uncontrollably; week after week book, Coronary-Artery Surgery: somewhat ill at ease, excited, appointment, of their school was going to be hard.’’But of accumulating mountains of A Critical Review. He questions anxious, a little scared and representatives to the Governing parties do end, classes do begin, handouts-volumes of gospel whether the procedure is in the mystified — in other words, a Council. and the pleasant memories, often which in a few months will be best interests of the patient and first-year student. But what have The next few hours were spent clouded by a superimposed carefully filed away and possibly society. He argued that CAB you done to deserve being among discussing various reports and drunken revelry, fade faster than never looked at again. Sooner or Surgery is not worth the cost and the chosen few admitted to AMC resolutions. Some of the more is to anyone’s liking. The two later it will get to be a drag and that “there is an economic and, more importantly, what lies significant reports follow. years of preclinical, basic science incentive for surgeons to perform in front of you. Continued on Page 4 Discontinuance of Residencies studies have begun. Hour after the operation.” Gerald M. Well, if the year is 1978 it’s in General Practice. This proposal Lawrie, M.D., an associate of likely you have recently finished would affect 27 currently Michael Debakey, M.D., and four years of college and earned a approved programs. In the Assistant Professor of Surgery at degree. You may be from the opinion of the AMA Council on Baylor, aggressively opposed Dr. Albany area, from distant parts of Medical Education, the general Preston stating emphatically that New York State, or even from practice residency has been Biochem Chairman money was not a factor. He feels remote corners of the country. supplanted by the family practice that the procedure provides both There’s a good chance you’re a residency. relief of symptoms and woman. AMA Dues. There are now prolongation of life. Further And what lies ahead of you? Search Continues 147,500 regular members of the Immediately ahead lie two days of arguments of Dr. Lawrie appear Microbiology) is presently Continued on Page 6 parties, dances, guided tours, By PAUL Z. SIEGEL, 81 in an article co-authored with Dr. engaged in the first step of the The Biochemistry Search process — compiling a list of Committee’s efforts to bring a between fifty and one hundred new department chairman to candidates whose names will be AMC in time for the beginning of presented to each member of the the 1978-79 academic year have committee for personal gone without success. Dr. Joseph evaluation. The committee then Glenn, chairman since 1975, chooses several candidates (this announced his resignation in past year it was five) who are August of last year, effective this invited to AMC to, in Dr. past July. He will be remaining Thomas’ words, “see and be with the biochemistry department seen". As of this point in the here at AMC and has agreed to search process no obligation has continue on as acting chairman been incurred by either the until a replacement is found. medical college or the candidates. The three-step search procedure Having met the candidates must once again be carried out personally the committee then from the beginning. Dr. Wilbur reconvenes and decides whether Thomas, member of the any are right for the job. A final committee and Chairman of the list is constructed and the Department of Pathology, remaining candidates are invited, anticipates it will be at least in order of the committee’s several months before a preference, for a second visit to A M A Photo replacement for Dr. Glenn is the medical college. This second found. Chairman of the search visit includes a discussion of New Jersey Medical School student Leonard Bielory about to raise a question at the A MA committee Dr. Lawrence Caliguiri contract terms with the Dean and meeting. (Chairman of the Department of possibly a formal job offer. P*gc2 NEXUS, September, 1978 Utem itfrnm StyfJftoar s Efttturtal NEXT NEXUS DEADLINE 3rd Year: Wha t Is A Nexus ? is extended to It’s Up to You (Mostly) Those of you who either have not taken or have forgotten Sept. 22,1978 By NINA WIMPIE, ’79 histology may be wondering what a nexus is. In cell biology, this resident or attending physician. \ And MITCH COLLMAN, ’79 You can answer questions and term describes a “gap junction” or interconnection between two A question was put to us the offer comfort to the patients, other day: “So you’re standing cells. Literary types may recognize another meaning of the word. execution of the asanas is set by which is often more important to there with your white coat and Nexus is derived from a Latin Verb meaning to bind or connect. two cornerstones of Hatha yoga. them than your status as a In current usage, it is the bond existing between members of a First of all, each exercise is your black bag; what happens student. However, there are now?” If, despite your basic group. The editors hope that the Nexus will live up to its executed slowly and gracefully, patients who will not cooperate training and education in Physical definition by becoming a bond between the members of the the position being held for several with you. This is surprisingly rare, seconds or minutes in order to Diagnosis, you don’t know quite and each of you will develop your Albany Medical College community. It is here as a service to achieve maximum benefit. where to begin, this is for you. own method of handling this you, the students. Each month it will feature local news, news Secondly, Hatha yoga emphasizes Your education in the third situation.

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