THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Published by the Department of Medicine, University of Alberta · Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7. Printed by Friesens, Altona, Manitoba. Printed in Canada. Edited by Dawna Gilchrist, MD. Design by Carol Dragich, Dragich Design. CONTENTS 5 Editor's Foreword 7 NOTES FROM THE CHAIR 9 The Early Years various sources 11 1944-1954 John W. Scott 17 1954-1969 Donald R. Wilson 23 1969-1974 Robert S. Fraser 33 1975-1986 George D. Molnar 41 1986-1990 E. Gamer King 44 The Interregnums Dawna M. Gilchrist 45 1993-1999 Paul W. Armstrong 53 1999-2004 Thomas J. Morrie 59 THE DIVISIONS 61 Cardiology Richard Rossa/I 65 Clinical Hematology and Medical Oncology Robert Turner 69 Dermatology Gilles Lauzon 73 Endocrinology and Metabolism Peter Crockford 78 Gastroenterology Richard Sherbaniuk 81 General Internal Medicine Lee Anhalt 85 Geriatric Medicine Peter McCracken 89 Infectious Diseases George Goldsand 94 Medical Oncology Anthony Fields 98 Nephrology and Immunology Ray Ulan 102 Neurology Fred Wilson & Harold Jacobs 105 Pulmonary Medicine Brian Sproule 109 Rheumatology Anthony Russell 3 111 SPECIAL TOP I CS 113 Medicine Overview Allan M. Edwards 117 Medical Education }. Alan Gilbert 121 Residency Training Richard Rossa/I 123 Transplantation Philip Halloran 125 Poliomyelitis Brian Sproule 130 Tuberculosis Anne Fanning 134 Diabetes Edmond Ryan 13 7 THE THREE ENGLISHMEN 139 John R. Dossetor 145 George Monckton 152 Richard Rossall 159 APPENDIX 161 Chairs of the Department of Medicine 161 Divisional Directors 163 Department Members 1999-2004, GFT 172 Department Members 1999-2004, Adjunct, Emeritus and Clinical 175 Photographs 4 EDITOR'S FOREWORD In 2002, Dr. Tom Marrie asked me to the writer to shine through - rather than compile a history of the Department of prescribe a set format. Medicine at the University of Alberta. To The third section is meant to cover those review 80 years of development is a areas which do not fit well in any division. daunting task. I thought that as many of It also gave me the opportunity to put in the stories as possible should be told by some articles which some of our now­ those who had actually lived them. deceased emeriti wrote for the early The first section is a compendium of Department Newsletter. reports made by each chair at the end of The fourth section was added simply his time at the helm. There is no report because I had great articles written by three from Dr. Pope. We were extremely fortunate emeriti who have fabulous story-telling to find a report made by Dr. King in 1990 skills. I have entitled it "The Three as he did not have the chance to write his Englishmen" because they all came across final summary. Because it took me the big water to make extremely note­ somewhat longer to put this together than worthy careers in Edmonton. I had originally anticipated, Dr. Marrie was able to add his report in 2004. My contributions have been two-fold. Firstly, I cajoled, coerced and finagled many The divisional section is written by a wide of our current and emeriti departmental variety of physicians, many of who were members ro contribute their experiences, involved right from the beginnings of their memories and observations. To use a respective divisions. The only instruction I phrase dear to me - it was like "herding gave them was to tell their divisional story, cats". Secondly, I edited these and other and a target length. Some chose to do an existing documents into a cohesive whole. overview of events with rare references to The entire construct could have looked individuals; others took a much more like the Edmonton Telephone Book - I person-by-person approach. I thought it have tried to be fair and consistent in the more important for the individuality of pruning process. 5 I am extremely grateful to Tom for asking One cannot undertake a project of rhis sort me to do this project, and to the Depart­ without making choices. I have tried to be ment for bank-rolling the publication as inclusive as possible. I have deliberately costs. Obviously, all the contributors stayed away from lists - one can never be deserve our collective appreciation for sure if rhey are totally accurate. I apologize taking time from their busy schedules to for anything or anyone I may have write. Thanks also go to Chuck Morrison overlooked or underappreciared. for extensive hand-holding, Linda Semper I consider this nor an academic project (my secretary) for hours of typing and but, rather, a gathering of friends and revisions, and to Jeff Park (our computer colleagues to tell the very colourful story of guru) for providing the pictures. our Department. Dawna M. Gilchrist Editor 6 HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE NOTES FROM THE CHAIR THE EARLY YEARS Various Sources "!recall that, in 1914, the only bridge between North and South Edmonton was the Low Level Bridge. To reach the University from the north side, one either walked across the river ice in winter or took a trolley car over the Low Level Bridge which traveled up 99th Street and along 8rnd Avenue to a turn around about the junction of8rnd Avenue and ro9th Street. From there one walked along a trail in dense bush to Assiniboia Hall or Athabasca Hall which were the only University Buildings." - Dr. John W. Scorr The School of Medicine under the Faculty teaching in the first year of Medicine. The of Arts and Science was organized in 1913, subjects taught were physics, inorganic as a three year school. Students at the end and organic chemistry, botany, zoology, of a three year course in Medicine were French and German. The teachers of rhose accepted for the final two years at McGill pioneer days were a dedicated group who University and the University of Toronto. carried a heavy load wirh few assistants as Alberta continued for ren years as a three graduate students did not exist. The year school and approximately 150 second year of Medicine was devoted to students trained in this fashion during that the reaching of the basic sciences - time. In the early 1920s, a $500,000 grant anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and from the Rockefeller Foundation allowed bacteriology. The class size was about 20 the University to provide the full training and there were two full-time teachers. leading to an MD. This capability was Or. Heber J. Jamieson was the first appoint­ established in 1923 and the class of 1925 was ment in Medicine as Lecturer in 1920. The the first to receive their medical diplomas Medical Building was completed in 1922, in Edmonton. providing more space for teaching. In 1923, In 1915 the Arts Building was constructed three clinical professorships were estab­ and it became the site of most of the lished - Dr. Egerton L. Pope in Medicine, 9 Dr. Frank H. Mewburn in Surgery and because Head of the newly-formed Dr. Leighton C. Conn in Obstetrics Department of Medicine. Initially, and Gynecology. Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Preventive Medicine all existed under the Department Dr. Pope was a McGill graduate who of Medicine for administrative purposes, received graduate training in Medicine in and it was only in the early 1950s that they London. Dr. John Scott described Dr. Pope were established as separate departments. as a meticulous clinician and an excellent teacher who followed the Oslerian tradition Dr. Pope remained Head until his retire­ in teaching and practice. With his appoint­ ment in 1944 and was succeeded by ment as a clinical professor, Dr. Pope Dr. John W Scott. 10 HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE 1944-1954 John W. Scott - as written in 1979 Dr. Tory offered me an appointment as The thirties were a dismal period in Alberta lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine in with the Provincial Government defaulting biochemistry in 1923. He indicated that a on its bonds and the cutting back of the Department of Medicine with a full-time Faculty of Medicine's operating budge to professor would soon be established and $60,000 in 1934· There was a ruthless that, following my year with Dr. Collip reduction of staff salaries and honoraria and rwo years of graduate training in with a partial payment in "Social Credit Medicine, I might be considered for a part­ Script", and the drying up of research time appointment with Dr. Pope. Dr. Tory funds. The student registration in all stated that the new Professor of Medicine faculties diminished. would be appointed as Director of the If there was little money, there were still Student Health Service. I might act as sick people and medical students to be resident physician to the University, be taught. I can recall carrying on outpatient available for examining all incoming new clinics attended by students for rwo full students, hold a student sick parade daily days a week in the McLeod House, on the and visit sick students in their lodgings, for present site of the CNR station. The staff an honorarium of $400 per year to supple­ of the Department of Internal Medicine ment my modest salary as a lecturer m were an enthusiastic group who, apart biochemistry. from Dr. Pope, were all part-time teachers. When Dr. Collip left Alberta in 1927 to Dr. Heber Jamieson was an enthusiast with take the Chair in Biochemistry at McGill, an interest in diabetes and metabolism. President Tory asked me to carry on Dr. Charles Hulburt was the first as acting head of the Department of Cardiologist in Alberta. Dr. Walter Scott Biochemistry for a year. Then, after graduate was interested in chest disease.