History of the Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine began auspiciously with the recruitment of its first chairman, Sir William Osler. Osler, perhaps the most renowned physician of his time, centered the training program upon the importance of bedside teaching.

A master clinician, author of the historic Principles and Practice of Medicine, and a warm and gracious mentor, Osler attracted talented men and women to Johns Hopkins for medical training. Each of the 11 Chairman who have followed Osler have helped the Department flourish not only by responding to the challenges of the times, but also by adhering to the Oslerian principles of the primacy of the patient and the importance of patient-based education. For example, under Dr. A. McGehee Harvey (1946-1973) the Department greatly expanded by establishing most of the current 13 divisions. Dr. Victor McKusick (1973-1985) founded the Firm System, which helped an enlarged residency program maintain the collegiality for which the program had been noted. During Dr. John D. Stobo's tenure (1985-1994) the Department's research activities grew rapidly. Dr. Edward J. Benz, Jr. (1995-1999) helped the Department maintain a patient-centered focus of training while responding to the challenges of managed care. Dr. Myron L. Weisfeldt became chair in 2001 and has renewed and strengthened the efforts to ensure that the Osler housestaff will once more provide the leadership for academic medicine in this country.