In honor of the College of Medicine’s 125th Anniversary, UNMC Today spoke with some retired faculty members and reflected on their years in the college.
Today we hear from Robert Grissom, M.D., professor emeritus from the department of cardiology. Dr. Grissom was at UNMC from 1953 until his retirement in 1987. He continues to read X-rays at the VA Medical Center and attend grand rounds.
In the 30s, 40s, and 50s, the State of Nebraska had been hard-bitten by prolonged drought, the depression and the war years. Although volunteer faculty worked very hard, the large number of faculty hours for instruction we now have in the “clinical” years was absent. The accrediting agency put the college on “probation” until some full-time clinical faculty could be recruited.
Accordingly, the faculty sought four trained clinical persons in 1953-54, one each in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology. I was the one chosen for internal medicine. All four of us became chairmen in 1956. Funds came entirely by legislature appropriation and increased only slowly. The limited number of patients, mostly non-paying, was further restricted by the necessity of closing wards for lack of funds. Only gradual expansion of the full-time faculty occurred beginning with Dr. Mary Jo Henn and Dr. Paustian, and at the Veterans Hospital, Dr. Ecklund. Efforts to increase tax revenues by adding state sales and income taxes were helpful. However, the governor purportedly lost in the next election because of it.
In 1970, the new hospital was opened bringing a new fee structure, more patients and more faculty. After 14 years I “stepped down” as chairman and new chairpersons have followed — Drs. Shipp, Sorrell, Armitage, Gollan and Klassen. The numbers of house staff faculty (now more than 140) now includes more than 40 women. The number of medical students has grown from approximately 85 to approximately 123 in each class, about half women.
In recent years the affiliation with Clarkson Hospital has been a boon. The building program, led especially by Chancellors Wittson and Maurer, and very generous community support has been phenomenal. Research effort has grown tremendously. Now the University of Nebraska College of Medicine has become one of the foremost medical colleges in the country.
My advice to current medical students? Try to be as good as you can be. Learn from each patient with the advantages of being thorough. Be considerate and respectful of your patients. Read and study research. Keep an interest in medical history, art, music and science. Enjoy life here.