This history was likely written to commemorate the centennial of the first class in formal medical education in Oregon that was held on March 3, 1867, in the Medical Department of Willamette University in Salem. This feature was originally published by the journal Northwest Medicine and provides information about early medical education in Oregon starting around 1836. It focuses on the steps and setbacks that led to establishing the Medical Department of Willamette University, including several departmental relocations between Salem and Portland. Around this time, the Oregon State Medical Society, the State Board of Health, and the State Board of Medical Examiners form and start the work of regulating both medical practice and instruction. Subjects also include changes in medicine, technology, course curriculum, graduation requirements, and the legislation that governs the standards for physicians and medical schools.

There is a recurring theme in this piece of professional convictions and differing opinions leading to infighting among the early faculty members and administration. One of these conflicts would result in some faculty splitting off to form the University of Oregon Medical School (UOMS). Approximately 25 years after the split, Willamette University’s Medical Department would reintegrate with UOMS. The article also describes different university facilities and locations over time including the building of UOMS’s Marquam Hill Campus in 1918, Multnomah Hospital in 1920, a veteran’s hospital and Doernbecher’s Memorial Hospital for Children in 1926, and many other additions up through 1967. The latter portion of the article focused almost exclusively on the work at UOMS from World War II until around 1965. The author describes this as a time of expansion, a new focus on research, and provides details on prominent university leaders. There are many historical images of buildings, documents, and prominent people used in this work.

Cover title: Men and Milestones in Medicine; 100 Years of Medical Education in Oregon.