Daniel D. Federman is the Senior Dean for Alumni Relations and Clinical Teaching and the Carl W. Walter
Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Harvard Medical School.
"By any measure," begins Dr. Federman, "the students comprising Harvard Medical School represent the most diverse
student body at Harvard. These students are chosen for their differences. Therefore it's no surprise that they don't agree on anything,
except one thing: when they are asked 'What is the best thing about Harvard Medical School?' they all answer 'The other students.'" With
this introduction, Dr. Federman welcomes the participants of the Alumni College as the newest students at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Federman then presents a brief history of the Harvard Medical School. The Harvard Medical School was conceived in
1782 by fourteen Bostonian doctors. The doctors outlined their vision to the president of Harvard College stating, "Now that the recent
hostilities have been concluded, we think that it is time for Harvard to pay attention to the health of the citizens of Boston." In
three months, the Medical School was formed.
Although the Medical School was first housed in Harvard Hall in Harvard Yard and then in Holden Chapel, the faculty
moved the school to downtown Boston to reduce their need to commute to Cambridge by horse and barge. Ever expanding, the school then
relocated to the fledgling Massachusetts General Hospital. However, Harvard president Charles Elliot, recognizing that medicine had to
be based on science, and that science and clinical teaching were inextricably linked, again relocated the Medical School, braking ground
at its present-day quadrangle, along Longwood Avenue, in 1903.
Most recently constructed, the New Research Building at the Harvard Medical School houses approximately 800 scientists
with laboratories, in addition to space that facilitates conferences, forums, and meetings.
Referring to the New Research Building, Dr. Federman states to the Alumni College audience, "The most advanced work in
science is being done 100 feet from your right shoulder. Here we try to get you together so we can tell you what this faculty and this
era of medical science mean to patients who want to live longer and live healthier."
|
|