A Century of Teaching and Healmg The first one hundred years of the Creighton University 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