Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson Digital Commons Legend and Lore: Jefferson Medical College Jefferson History and Publications March 2009 Forematter (Cover, Title page, Foreword, Preface and Contents) Follow this and additional works at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/savacool Part of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Recommended Citation "Forematter (Cover, Title page, Foreword, Preface and Contents)" (2009). Legend and Lore: Jefferson Medical College. Paper 1. https://jdc.jefferson.edu/savacool/1 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 Legend and Lore: Jefferson Medical College by an authorized administrator of the Jefferson Digital Commons. For more information, please contact: [email protected]. FREDERICK B. WAG,TER, JR., M.D. J. WOODROW SAVACOOL, M.D. Jefferson Hedical College o f Th o. as Jefferson University THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY Each hi tory in the lefferscn Tnlog ha a portr I bv Thoma E k n on the front co r: Tr dit on and H nta . The Ore (hnn A Chron 10 ical H, toru and "'umAt Dm'ct "' Ben'dmlO HO\\,1rd Rand L ('tid ami Lore WlihOlim Smtlh Forbe -~ -to-- • ' .. -,.. __----'L=egend and Lore Jefferson Medical College Statue of Thomas Jefferson by Lloyd Lillie in West Atrium of Jefferson Alumni Hall. Donated in 1987 by the Foundation of John P. McGovern, M.D., Sc.D., Ll.D., l.H.D. Jefferson Medical College ---- - - of - - - - - 'ThomasJefferson V nil'ersity ore Edited by Frederick B. Wagner, ir; M.D. andJ. Woodrow Sauacool, MD. Foreword by Paul C. Brucker, M.D., Sc.D. President, Thomas Jefferson University Joseph S. Gonnella, M.D. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean , Jefferson Medical College -----1996----- Published for Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University by William T. Coo ke Publish ing, Inc. Devon.Ee, 1996 Copyright C 1996 by Thom.u JlPftenon Uni~ty. Copyright u.ndt-r W lntE'mationalCopyright Urtion. AURighb R~ . v All too frequ ently the opportunity to record an institution's tradition and history is missed. thereby overlooking or postponing the permanent record­ ing of its heritage. Many times it is difficult to identify able individuals who are interested. enthusiastic, and willing to give of their time and themselves for such an undertaking. Thomas Jefferson University is fortunate, not on ly because it has a long outstanding heritage of which it is deservedly very proud, but also because it boasts of two dedicated au thors. Frederick B. Wagner, Jr. QMC,'41), and J. Woodrow Savacool (JMC, '38), who have already recorded a grea t portion of Jefferson 's history in two volumes: Tradition and Heritage (1989) and A Chronological History and Alumni Directory (1992). Their work did not stop there, however. Now the University has the benefit of a third book: Lege"d arid Lore. This is a very d ifferent but complementary book to the previous two. It is much more anecdotal and focuses on student life, special alumni, outstanding professors, valuable archival material, and jefferson's international contributions. Drs. Wagner and Savacool have collected a grea t deal of information from former jeffersonians who recognized the importance and value of daily events in the life of this institution. I know that you, too, will enjoy the nu­ merous vignettes and snapshotsof the jefferson family which are so cleverly illustrated throughout this new volume. Although many are unique, they are bound together by the jefferson lineage. This is an easy, entertaining book to read . When compared to the previous works, it gives onean entirely different picture or flavor of this wonderful institution. We are indebted to the authors of Legend and Lore whose d ed ication and loyalty to Jefferson are so ob vious not only to those of us who know them personally, but to anyone who reads their writings. Pau l C. Brucker, M.D., SeD. President, Thomas jefferson University VI The scholarly three-volume history of ThomasJefferson University by Drs. Wagnerand Savacoot is indeed a labor of love that exemplifies the kind of de­ d ication that has made Jefferson an outstand ing institution. This third vol­ ume of the trilogy portrays many illustrious individuals, describes many fas­ cinating events, and provid es unique insights into Jefferson's long and rich history. It a lso invites certain questions: What is it about Jefferson that nur­ tu res such individuals? And are these individuals anomalies, or do their quali ties exist in all members of the Jefferson Family? I believe the answers are found through examining the large trends in Jefferson's history and through examining specific details. In these volumes we see a skillful blend of both. Among the la rge trends we certainly see ex­ ceptiona l educationa l leadership and originality among administration and faculty; a network of excellent affilia ted hospitals; and, most revealing, a dedicated a nd outstanding group of alu mni. You may have already read about the spirit of ed uca tiona l leadership and originality that in 1824 instituted the approach- rad ical for its time - that stu­ dents should learn medicin e not only by studying it, but also by practicing it under pro per medical supervision. The sa me leadership and indepen­ dence from educationa l fashion continue today with the belief that students should receive a sound general medical education prior to specializing in one area of medicine. The early network of affiliated hospita ls - the General Dispensary, th e Blockley Almshouse, Wills Eye Hos pi tal for Diseases of the Eye, and Penn­ sylvania Hospital- provided the best clinical experience for the first Jefferson students. Today Jefferson students continue to learn a t sixteen exce llent af­ filiated hospitals. Both the volunteer and full-time faculty a t Jefferson and its affiliates have dedicated themselves to the institution's missi on . And , of course, our history tells of the vital role of the alumni, how, since the founding of th e Alumni Association in 1870 by Samuel D. Gross, our graduates have alwaysbeen ready to support both the physical and thespiri­ tual growth of this institution. The same curiosity about general trends and specific details that inspired the histories has also inspired us to develop a detailed process for learning from our ongoing successes a nd failures. We have not been content to con­ gra tu late ourselves on pa st successes and assume that th e future will auto-­ matically offer similar rewards. In 1968 Jefferson initia ted a longitudinal study that collects relevant data on a ll students prior to their matriculation at Jefferson, d uring their time here, and after graduation from medical school. VII We have cond ucted this study in the belief that medical schools are obli­ gated to evaluate their educational program to assure that the competence, performance, and professional activities of the graduates meet the expected goats of medical schools. When we started the study, medical education re­ search was still in its infancy, and most medical schools were unwilling to invest in such a project, since it promised no immediate return. Since that time we have compiled extensive data on more than 6,500 gradua tes, creat­ ing the largest da tabase of its kind . In recent years several medical schools have inquired about ou r longitudina l study, requesting material that might se rve as a prototype for similar stu d ies. This recent interest may bedue to economic pressures that have compelled man y schools to base their d ecision making on objective, d etailed d ata, rather than on subjective impressions. At jefferson, our longitudinal database serves a variety of functions, in­ cluding providing objective information to the college's academic commit­ tees (e.g., admissions, student promotion, and cu rriculum), assuring the quality of the educational program throughou t the affiliated hospitals, pro­ viding individual data used in the Dean's letter that our students send when they apply for residencies, assessing thecollege's programs for accreditation by the national accrediting agency, and empirically and systematically ad­ dressing a va riety of complex issues raised by medical educators. Perhaps when we lookat theeventsof this history, in combination with the results of the study, we will get some of the answers to ourquestions about jefferson. We see tha t the same elements that have nurtured illustrious in­ dividuals continue to produce exceptiona l, well trained graduates. For ex­ ample, we have learned through the study that jefferson grad uates are con­ sistently rated higher than their peers from ot her medical schools at the end of their first post-graduate yea r. We also see that the elements that have made this institution 's history a great one - educationa l leadership, development of the affiliated hospitals and faculty, and alumni su ppo rt of the educational miss ion - are linked to­ gether in a continued effort to maintain ourcore values. Although jefferson's campus has altered dramatically in the past 171 years, its principal mission, to provide the finest health care education, has never changed. Joseph S. Gonnella. M.D. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairsand Dean, Jefferson Medical College VIII PREF AC Legend and Lore is the third in the trilogy of Jefferson history.