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The development of graduate programs of study
in what we now refer to as the biomedical sciences at this institution
has a long and complex history. Dr. John C. Forbes pioneered the
initiation of graduate study at the Medical College of Virginia
in the 1930s. In an age when biomedical research has been a national
priority for decades, it is difficult to appreciate the wisdom,
foresight and enthusiasm for science which Dr. Forbes displayed
in championing the value of scientific research and the benefit
of providing a training ground for research scientists.
Two students initiated study with Dr. Forbes
in 1934 and were awarded M.S. degrees in 1936. Jeanette S. McConnell
and James Henry Willis became the first advanced degree awardees,
receiving the M.S. from the Department of Biochemistry. Coincident
with the initiation of the graduate study program, Dr. Forbes also
organized what was referred to as the Biological Seminar, a weekly
lecture series featuring presentations of research developments.
This seminar series which would now be characterized as an interdisciplinary
forum, continued into the early 1980s.
Oversight of graduate education in this initial
phase of development was the responsibility of a faculty Graduate
Committee, appointed by Dr. W. T. Sanger, then Chancellor of the
Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Forbes served as the Chair of this
Committee from 1934-1947. Through this period, enrollment of graduate
students continued at a modest level. During the Second World War,
institutional priorities were directed to physician training for
the war effort. Nonetheless, by 1947 graduate work had been initiated
in an additional five departments: bacteriology, pathology (1942),
physical medicine (1947), physiology, pharmacology (1947).
In1947, Dr. Ebbe Hoff became Chairman of the
Graduate Committee, and would provide administrative leadership
of graduate education through 1966. In 1948, Dr. Forbes initiated
action to expand graduate education at the Medical College of Virginia
to include Ph.D. training. In June of 1952, Archie W. Miller, Jr.
was awarded the first Ph.D. from the institution, graduating in
pharmacology.
In this same period, organizational changes
were initiated which would influence the administrative evolution
of graduate education. Then, as now, the basic science departments,
although administratively housed in the School of Medicine, taught
in the School of Dentistry, the School of Pharmacy, and the School
of Nursing. At the request of the Deans of the other MCV Schools,
an arrangement was adopted wherein the Basic Science Departments
were transiently placed under the administrative jurisdiction of
a Committee of the Deans chaired by the Dean of the School of Medicine.
As was the intent at the time of this transition, eventually this
"Division" of the Basic Sciences became the School of
Basic Sciences with its own Dean.
As these changes were taking place, the stature
of graduate education became formally recognized with the creation
of the position of Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Dr. Ebbe
Hoff accepted an appointment in this new position. The "Graduate
Committee" later termed the MCV Graduate Committee became the
administrative home for all advanced degree programs at the Medical
College of Virginia. This body, chaired by Dr. Hoff was composed
of faculty representatives from all Departments housing graduate
programs. A status report on graduate education in 1959 appeared
in the "Scarab", the journal of the MCV Alumni Association
and is appended to this article. National data from this period
indicate that 2580 students were undergoing advanced degree training
in biomedicine in the U.S. in 1958 (11% of whom were non-citizens).
The 21 students enrolled in graduate programs at MCV in 1958, the
only biomedical graduate students in Virginia at that time, placed
Virginia as 21st in the U.S.
In 1966, the School of Basic Sciences was
formally established and aegis over graduate education was incorporated.
Thus the new administrative unit was the School of Basic Sciences
and Graduate Studies. Dr. Daniel T. Watts was recruited as the first
Dean of the new School. The specific charge to Dr. Watts was the
enhancement of the quality of health professions instruction, research
and graduate education. Dr. Watts would serve as Dean for the period
of 1966-1982. Through much of this period of enhanced development
of research and graduate education, Dr. Charles C. Clayton served
as Assistant Dean until his untimely death in 1977. Along with Dr.
Forbes and Dr. Hoff, Dr. Clayton played a critical role in recapturing
the momentum for graduate education at the end of World War II and
establishing Ph.D. training at the Medical College of Virginia.
As is evident from the record of M.S. and Ph.D. graduates in programs
now resident in the School, graduate education blossomed under the
leadership of Dr. Watts. In the mid to late 1970s, the production
of Ph.D. graduates in the basic science disciplines was among the
highest in the United States. Data published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association in this period indicates that the level
of Ph.D. graduates was the 8th - 9th highest
nationally for 1977-78.
In 1968, Virginia Commonwealth University
was established, incorporating the Schools and programs of the Medical
College of Virginia into the new comprehensive institution. Responsibility
for the administration of graduate education for the institution
was shifted to a more senior level shortly thereafter. The School
of Basic Sciences and the MCV Graduate Committee continued, however,
providng oversight for graduate education on the Medical College
of Virginia Campus.
In 1973, an annual program was initiated to
recognize excellence in research at the Masters and Doctoral levels
within the School of Basic Science, Medicine and Pharmacy. This
program of student presentations and an invited seminar continues
to this day and is now termed the John C. Forbes Research Colloquium
in recognition of the pioneering work of Dr. Forbes.
In 1982, Dr. Watts retired and Dr. S. Gaylen
Bradley was appointed to succeed Dr. Watts. In 1984, a program of
poster presentations of ongoing research was initiated, taking place
in the Fall term to complement the Forbes Research Colloquium which
is held in the Spring term. These presentations are termed the Daniel
T. Watts Research Symposium recognizing Dr. Watts' leadership in
advancing graduate education to its current stature.
In the latter part of the 1980s, Dr. Bradley
initiated the creation of a Department of Biomedical Engineering.
This Department was to become the core of the School of Engineering,
established at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995.
In 1994, the School of Basic Health Sciences
was incorporated into the School of Medicine. Administrative coordination
of advanced degree programs was placed in the newly created Office
of Graduate Education with the position of Associate Dean of Graduate
Education established and occupied by Dr. Jan F. Chlebowski.
In 1995, a Certificate program was established
to provide enhanced training in the basic sciences for students
seeking entry into professional school as a career objective.
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