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University Daily Kansan Wednesday. Jan. 13, 1960
University of Kansas Medical Center
$20 Million and 61 Years
The University of Kansas School of Medicine was organized in 1899, offering two years of medical instruction. In 1905, a gift of money and land was made by Dr. Simeon B. Bell in memory of his wife, Eleanor Taylor Bell. This gift made possible the establishment of the 4-year School of Medicine; the first class, composed of transfer students, graduated in 1906. Also in that year, the Department of Nursing accepted its first class.
In 1907, new buildings, known as Bell Memorial Hospital were occupied. Through contributions and appropriations by the city of Rosedale, a 14 acre site was purchased in 1920 at 39th and Rainbow, Kansas City, Kanss.
Since 1934, through the combination of state appropriations, private gifts, federal grants and hospital earnings, the facilities have been added to to bring the institution to its present size and scope.
The name, "University of Kansas Medical Center" was officially adopted in 1947. The present plant, including buildings, equipment and grounds, is valued at 20 million dollars based on replacement cost.
The chief administrative officer of the School is Dr. W. Clarke
Dr. W. Clarke Wescoe
Wescoe, Director of the Medical Center, who also serves as Dean of the School of Medicine. He is responsible to the Chancellor, and through him to the Board of Regents. He is assisted by an associate director, Russell Miller; associate dean, Dr. Mahlon Delp, and two assistants, Dr. C. Arden Miller and Dr. Robert Hudson.
The purpose of the Medical Center is three-fold:
- Teaching.
- Patient care.
Medical Research.
Under the teaching program, the work of the first year in the School of Medicine is completed on the campus in Lawrence (until 1961 when the new facilities will be completed in Kansas City). The last three years are completed at the Medical Center. The Medical Center is a service center for the State of Kansas and surrounding area. Some 50 per cent of the patients come from out of the Kansas City area. The hospital has 600 beds, and provides employment for 2,000 persons. The full-time and part time faculty totals about 500.
The student body, totaling 724 students, includes resident and interning physicians, medical and nursing students . . as well as licensed practical nurses, x-ray and medical technologists, dietitians, medical social workers, occupational, physical and speech/hearing therapists, graduate students in various medical sciences, mortuary science and hospital administration. In addition, over 5,000 persons from nearly every state and several foreign countries enroll annually in courses offered by the Department of Post-Graduate Medical Education.
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