A Century of Teaching and Healmg

The first one hundred years of the hod of Medicine

Carolyn J. Boro, B.S. Beverley T. Mead, M. D. a foreword by Ridmd L. O'Brien, M.D.

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY @ 1991, All Ri Creighton University School o icine School Of Medicine

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ...... ii ... Creighton University Officers of Administration ...... iii School of Medicine Officers of Administration ...... iv Foreword ...... v ... Acknowledgments ...... viii Highlights and Significant Dates ...... 1 Early Nebraska Medicine ...... 5 Before the Beginning ...... 21

St . Joseph's Hospital - Our Close Associate ...... 35 Early Years, 1892-1910 ...... 43 Flexner and World War I, 1910-1918 ...... 65 The von Schulte Years of Progress, 1918-1932 ...... 79 The Depression Years. 1932-1939 ...... 91 Wilhelmj and World War II. 1939-1948 ...... 105 The Placid Years - The End of An Era. 1949-1959 ...... 127 A New Era of Progress. 1959-1970 ...... 155 Into The Modern Age. 1970-1980 ...... 187

Building for the Future - 1980 Forward ...... 237 The Changing Face of the Medical Student ...... 289 Deans of the Creighton School of Medicine ...... 299 Regents of the Creighton School of Medicine ...... 325 Special People ...... 335 Much Work and Less Play ...... 369 Memories ...... 405 Appendix Deans of the School of Medicine ...... 455 Regents of the School of Medicine ...... 455 Department Chairmen ...... 455 Graduates of the School of Medicine ...... 462 Founded in 1878, Creighton University was the realization of a dream of Edward Creighton to provide an education for the children of Omaha's settlers in a morally rich climate. In 1879, Omaha's Bishop James O'Connor asked the Society of Jesus to take responsibility for the growth and development of Creighton University. This new Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education became one of the now 28 Jesuit institutions of higher education in the United States. Edward Creighton's dream was enlarged and strengthened when his brother, John, founded the Creighton College of Medicine in 1892, the first professional school of the fledgling University. Since that time, many things have changed, but one thing that has always remained the same has been the goal of the Creighton School of Medicine to educate competent, caring physicians in the Jesuit tradition. It is a goal that has been admirably met by the School of Medicine in its 100 years of existence. The true measure of the success of any educational institution is its the Creighton School of Medicine, as evidenced by its 5,996 physician graduates, has been a success. The School of Medicine has always been an integral component of Creighton hton community are justifiably proud of the achieve- ess made by our medical colleagues. Their long tradition of innovation and educational excellence reflects honorably on Creighton, whose education forms men and women to be leaders in their professions and of service to society. I am confident that the future holds even greater promise. It is with great pride that I salute the achievements of the 100 years of the School of Medicine, and join in celebrating its Centennial Anniversary. Congratulations from the entire Creighton family.

Michael G. Morrison, S.J. President -- School Of Medicine

Rev. Michael G.Morrison, S.J.

Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean, School of Medicine Richard L. CYBrien, M.D.

iii Foreword

School of Medicine Officers of Ad inistration:

Alan H. Fruin, M.D., Associate Dean Sally C. O'Neill, Ph.D., irswiate hf~chaelJ. Hallrr, M n.; Associate for Clinical Affairs. Dean for Continuing hlchra: Ocan for Gradu,>!v\lcdical Education. Education.

William J. Hunter, HI, M.B., Associate John J. M,:l~\~lc,Ir.,M.D., Associate William L. Pancoe, Ph D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dean for Vt-tc.r,~nsAffairs. Dean for Student Afhrs.

Robert L. Mills, M.A., Associate Dean for Finance and Administr~1:on. School Of Medicine

Foreword

Institutions, like individuals, are born, develop during a period of youth, and mature. Unlike individuals, institutions may continue to grow and improve rather than decline and die. This has certainly been true of Creighton University and its School of Medicine during its first one hundred years. Begun on the initiative and with the support of John A. Creighton in 1892, the year after Creighton awarded its first bachelors degrees, the School of Medicine passed through its turbulent youth and matured, weathered the financial vicissi- tudes of the great Depression of the 193Qfs,and continued to grow and improve to the present. During the past one hundred years, medical practice and medical education have undergone enormous changes brought about by advances in science and technology; by expectations of higher- quality, more effective medical care; and by higher standards for accreditation. These changes, some of which Creighton originated or contributed to, are part of the evolution of the Creighton University School of Medicine. In 1892 Omaha was a frontier town. Less than 40 years old, it had grown rapidly, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the frontier was much in evidence. By 1892 medical education had had a short and tumultuous history in Nebraska. When John Creighton simultaneously built and endowed a new St. Joseph Hospital and the John A. Creighton Medical College, he established the first university-based medi- cal school in the region and introduced a stable institutional commitment to medical education that has persisted to our time. Creighton and St. Joseph have, during their one-hundred year partnership, made many contributions to the health care and health professions education in the region and the nation. If John Creighton had not responded to the urgings of the several physicians with a vision of a university-based medical school in Omaha, the history of health care and education in this region would have been very different and much poorer. Unlike many schools established in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the history of Creighton's medical school has been continuous. Its success was followed by the establishment in 1905 of the schools of dentistry and pharmacy and in 1928 the bachelors degree in nursing. During its one hundred years, Creighton's medical school has enjoyed the leadership of a number of remarkable people and has been responsible for many regional and national firsts and new developments in practice and education. Though incomplete, the following is a sampling of advances and innovations introduced at Creighton:

The first four-year medical school in the west;

The first X-Ray image made inOmaha, within a year after Roentgen's discovery;

An early requirement (1908) of two years liberal arts education for admission to medical school - later withdrawn because some in the Association of American Medical Colleges thought it too revolutionary; Foreword .

Numerous innovations in medical school curriculum and teaching methods;

Advances in nutrition research resulting from studies in fat and vitamin metabolism by Professor Victor Levine;

Specialty clinics in cancer during the 1930fs,far in advance of most medical schools;

Major contributions by Charles Wilhelmj in gastrointestinal physiology and the study of the etiology and pathogenesis of hypertension;

One of the earliest air ambulance systems in the United States;

The first invasive cardiology laboratory in Omaha - mid 1950's; a major program of cardiology, directed by Richard Booth - 1961;

A laboratory for the study of bone metabolism and osteoporosis by eaney - late 1950's, which became one of the world's most productive multidisciplinary hard tissue research programs;

ajor advances by Dr. Dona1 agee, Chairman of knowledge of neurohormonal control of gastrointestinal secretions;

A world-renowned research program in hereditary cancer, established in 1968 by Dr.

A Department of medical microbiology integratingbasic and clinical research, education and patient care, established by Dr. W. Eugene Sanders in 1971;

Creighton's leadershi continues to the present with the establishment of programs itron emission tomography, hypertension research, allergy and clinical im ogy, regulatory peptides and their receptors, and other important areas of medical science. In addition many Creighton alumni have earned distinction in academic nd military service, and in service to the profession. The winners edicine Alumni Merit Award are an impressive array of leaders of American medicine from the past to the present. owever, although distinguished leaders and achievements in science and ogy bestow renown upon a medical school and enhance its reputation, the most important measures of its success are the nature and uality of its graduates - the men and women who daily serve the needs of patients with compassion, knowledge and skill. These practitioners are the great majority of any medical school's graduates. How they provide care and maintain their knowledge and skills, how they alleviate suffering and assist patients to deal with suffering - these are the most important criteria for judging a medical school's success. Medicine - School Of -. . .-

Creighton's record in this regard is clear evidence of success. Its graduates have been exceptional in their commitment to serving their patients with excellent and compassionate care. Since its beginning, the Creighton University School of Medicine has strived to instill a sense of responsibility and service to others. This goal has been explicitly stated in the words of its founders, faculty and leaders, and throughout its history it has remained committed to serving the poor and under-served. Creighton has continuously conducted clinics for the poor of Omaha and has reached out to the campesinos of the Dominican Republic and to refugees in southeast Asia. Students and faculty give time and effort to the homeless and to clinics serving minorities in areas with too few health providers. In these and many other ways Creighton continues to assist the under-privileged and needy. The School of Medicine has also long responded to the need for medical education for those subject to discrimination by our society and its institutions. From its beginning it has accepted women and minorities who were denied admission to other schools of medicine. John A. Creighton and his family would be proud of the School of Medicine he founded. By educating thousands of compassionate physicians, it has carried forward and extended the commitments to charity so characteristic of John, his brother Edward, and their wives SarahEmily and Mary Lucretia. This proud history is celebrated during this, its centennial year, and commemorated by this book. Those of us privileged to have inherited the accomplishments of our school's founders and our predecessors have a heavy obligation to carry forward their spirit of commitment to excellence and to service. We will do our best!

Dr. Richard L. O'Brien 30 August 1991

- vii Foreword

nowledgment

In any undertaking of this magnitude, there are many people whose assistance is invaluable to making the finished history a reality. The authors wish to extend sincere gratitude to the following individuals and organizations. The history of the Creighton University School of Medicine could not have been told without their help, expertise, guidance, encouragement and sharing of memories or materials.

- To the Archives, the einert Memorial Library and the Health Sciences Library of Creighton University for the gen us use of their materials and for assistance by their staffs. Marjorie Wannarka v. Richard C. Harrington, S.J., and the late Rev. Roland J. eichmuth, S.J., were especially helpful.

- To Julie McPhillips, Nikki Beck and Kristin Morse, Creighton student employees, who patiently made the many changes, corrections and photo- copies necessary to ready the manuscript for printing.

- To the many individuals who shared their memories and re interviews, thereby making history come alive with first-hand accounts.

- To the many sources of the photographs used in this book, including Tom Connolly of the Creighton Public tions Department; the many medical gradu- ates or their spouses who shar ersonal photographs; Donna representing the St.Joseph Hospi torical Society; and Ken Longe, representing the Historical Museum.

- To Dr. Joseph Holthaus and Dr. Richard O'Brien, who reviewed segments of the manuscript for form and historical accuracy.

- To Laurine Blankenau, who provided valuable editorial services.

- To the staff of the Creighton University Biomedical Communications Department who provided guidance, friendship and support. The Department's expertise and professionalism in graphic art, design and layout, photography, typesetting and printing coordination were elemental in a quality finishe

- To Mr. Leon G. "Benny" Benschoter, for being a consistent source of help and encouragement. Mr. Benschoter assumed the too-often thankless role of unofficially "shepherding" this project, providing assistance in a multitude of areas, large and small, and proving to be our most valuable ally. His ready smile, constant support and unfailing optimism were as helphrl as his day-to-day assistance in practical matters and the "cutting of red tape". His role was a large one. School Of Medicine

Highlights And Significant Dates For The Creighton University School of Medicine

The following dates are meaningful ones in the history of the Creighton University School of Medicine. In many instances only a month and year are given or even, in some cases, a year alone. This is because either a more exact time frame is not known, or the event indicated was ongoing over a period of time. They do not includeacademic or administrativeappointments since many of these are discussed elsewhere and a complete compilation would be too lengthy.

September 24,1870 Sisters of Mercy open St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital at 12th & Mason November 5,1874 Edward Creighton dies January 23,1876 dies September 2,1878 Creighton University opens April 17,1880 Sisters of St. Francis Seraph assume control of hospital and it becomes simply "St. Joseph's" September 1882 Addition to St. Joseph's Hospital completed September 30,1888 Sarah Emily Creighton dies May 30,1892 Creighton University Board of Trustees creates The John A. Creighton Medical College June 13,1892 Creighton Memorial St. Joseph's Hospital opens at 10th & Castelar September 27,1892 First session of The John A. Creighton Medical College begins 1894 Four year curriculum first required for graduation from Medical College February 12,1896 Creighton Chemistry/Toxicology Professor produces the first X-Ray in Omaha September 28,1897 Medical Building at 14th & Davenport opens September 1,1898 Surgical Section addition to St. Joseph's Hospital opens 1907 College of Pharmacy Building added at 14th &Davenport February 7,1907 Count Creighton dies 1909 John A. Creighton Medical College becomes the Creighton University College of Medicine April, 1909 Flexner visits Creighton 1910 North Lab Building completed June 21,1911 New wing of St. Joseph's dedicated 1914 Clinical Lab addition to St. Joseph's January 1914 One-year college entrance requirement 1916 Clinical clerkships established Highlights And Significant Dates.

1917 Creighton College of Medicine receives Class "A" rating February 1917 Student Army Training Corps mandatory at Creighton 1918 Department opens at St. Joseph's January 1,1918 wo-years college entrance requirement April 1918 College of Medicine recognized by Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons October 21,1918 College of Medicine closed in response to flu epidemic December 8,1918 S.A.T.C. disbanded at Creighton 1919 Outpatient Department established at 1922 Creighton 55th General 1923 St. Joseph's Student Nu 192