How it all began

At a Newfoundland refresher course in October 1958 Ronald V. Christie, chairman of the Department of Medicine at McGill, posed the question of a medical school in the province. The Honourable James M. McGrath, minister of health, and Dr. Leonard A. Miller, deputy minister of health, did not expect that there would be one in their lifetimes. Dr. Ian Rusted, medical consultant to the Department of Health, also did not know when there would be a medical school here. However, he thought it was important that small steps were already being made such as the formal approval of intern and resident training at the General Hospital. Six years later in June 1964, Dr. Rusted would give an address, “The Case for a Medical School in Newfoundland,” at the annual meeting of the Newfoundland Medical Association.

In 1961, Chief Justice Emmett Hall visited St. John’s as a part of his research for the Royal Commission on the Health Services of Canada. The commission recommended that over the next ten years four new medical schools should be created in Canada, one of which ought to be in the Atlantic Provinces. The Newfoundland Medical Association (NMA) was very interested in the idea of Newfoundland having a medical school, and so a committee was struck with members of the NMA, the university and the Provincial Department of Health.

In the same year, Dr. Wendell McLeod and Dr. Chester Stewart, the then dean of medicine at Dalhousie University, wrote a preliminary study recommending that a medical school in Newfoundland would be beneficial for the province. They also recommended that a full feasibility study should be carried out.

In May 1965, the president of Memorial University of Newfoundland invited Dr. MacFarlane to carry out a study on the feasibility of establishing a medical school at the university. The provincial government requested that Lord Brain prepare a Royal Commission on Health, which was completed in 1966 and which advised that a medical school was crucial for health care in the province. Several other reports ensued, all supporting the necessity of a medical school. The federal government’s Health Resources Fund was also essential to the realization of a medical school for this province. In 1967, Premier Joseph R. Smallwood committed the government to a formal financial commitment.

Others also worked tirelessly to establish the medical school: Dr. A. M. House, chief of staff of the General Hospital was a staunch supporter; Memorial University of Newfoundland representatives, Raymond Gushue, president, M. O. Morgan, in the capacities of dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and president (pro tem), and Lord Taylor, president, clearly stated the university’s position. On Sept. 1, 1967, after an international search in Canada, England and the United States, the Faculty of Medicine became a reality with the appointment of Dr. Ian Rusted as the first dean of medicine.

In September 1967 the university announced a second appointment. Dr. K. B. Roberts, born in London, England, was appointed associate dean of medicine, a position that became effective full-time in 1968. Both Dr. Rusted and Dr. Roberts traveled throughout Canada and the United States examining the setup of various medical schools in order to design the most appropriate model for Memorial University and the General Hospital.

The university announced two more appointments in the Faculty of Medicine in February 1968, and they too were heavily involved with the development of the school. Dr. William Marshall, born in London, England, but now living in New York, was appointed associate professor of immunology and director of Postgraduate Medical Education, effective June 1, 1968. Dr. A. M. House, professor of neurology and chief of staff at the St. John’s General Hospital, was appointed director of Continuing Medical Education (CME). All four doctors tackled the job of further faculty recruitment.

The Facilities

While the development of the type of medical school was being determined and faculty recruitment proceeded, there was the enormous issue of the location and facilities of both the medical school and the General Hospital, which was located on Forest Road in the east end of St. John’s. Committees were struck to determine the planning and development of the life sciences-health sciences complex.

Originally, the Medical School was housed in offices in the Education Building of Memorial University of Newfoundland and at the General Hospital. In the Spring of 1968, the provincial government committed over one million dollars for the construction of the Temporary Buildings, which would house the Faculty of Medicine until the late 1970s. In fact, the first medical class had graduated before the move to the new facilities had begun.

Several individuals played major roles in the events leading up to the construction of the Health Sciences Centre. Lord Taylor, Moses Morgan and Dr. Ian Rusted were in contact on a regular basis with the provincial government working towards the goal of financial commitment to build the complex. In November 1968, Mr. Charles M. (Chick) Campbell, a leading authority on electronic data processing and the application of computers to medical purposes, was hired as the project coordinator for the life sciences-health sciences complex. Mr. Campbell effectively juggled politicians, architects, construction engineers, hospital administrators, physicians, faculty, staff and students, while also finding time to be a faculty member teaching in Community Medicine.

Seven provincial ministers of health, James M. McGrath, July 1956 to September 1967, John C. Crosbie, September 1967 to May 1968, T. Alex Hickman, May 1968 to June 1969, Edward M. Roberts, June 1969 to January 1972, A. T. Rowe, January 1972 to May 1975, Robert Wells, June 1975 to October 1975, and Harold A. Collins, October 1975 to March 1979, were involved with the efforts, which eventually led to the opening of the Health Sciences Centre. There were two deputy ministers of health who also played significant roles, Dr. Leonard Miller and Dr. Donald Cant.

In 1969, Mr. Ralph Moore was appointed as administrator of the St. John’s General Hospital. He was also heavily involved with many aspects of the creation of the new life sciences-health sciences complex. Mr. Moore would eventually chair the Planning and Development Committee, which had representatives from the hospital, the government, the university, the architects and the project managers, and which oversaw the planning and construction of the Health Sciences Centre.

Finally, in 1971 Mr. Edward Roberts, provincial minister of health, wrote the official government letter to the university announcing that federal funding, through the Health Resources Fund, had been confirmed. Now the project would proceed. Once funding was official, Scrivener Products Limited (Toronto) was appointed to be project managers to co-ordinate the development of the facility, working closely with the St. John’s firm, Project Management and Design, Limited. Toronto architecture firm, John C. Parkin, was hired to design the facility. On Oct. 26, 1978, the Honourable Frank D. Moores, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, officially opened the Health Sciences Centre.

Education: A unique curriculum program

In the Fall of 1969, the first medical students began classes. The curriculum dispensed with the traditional rigid departmentalization method of learning. Instead, it placed emphasis on community medicine and behavioral science, on cell biology, molecular biochemistry and immunology, and on the study of organs and systems in both health and disease. As a result, the students were introduced to patients from the beginning. An interesting result meant that the program could be shortened by a year without any loss in efficiency. Therefore, the students could take a four-year program, and by 1973, one fifth of the students were following a three-year program.

Research

The first research laboratories for the Faculty of Medicine were set up in 1967 at the old fever hospital located in the St. John’s General Hospital. Next, facilities were included in the new Temporary Buildings, which were built in 1968. In September 1968, the Medical Research Council of Canada approved a research development grant of $190,000 to the Faculty of Medicine.

Research in the Faculty of Medicine garnered strong support from the beginning undertaking many areas of research, such as high blood pressure, cell studies and community medicine and general practice. In 1969, The Department of National Health and Welfare supported research projects such as the continuation of a hypertension study with a grant of $41,000, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s RH rhesus blood factor project with a grant of $$4,350, and $15,000 for investigations of psychiatric disorders. The Canada Life Insurance Association awarded $10,000 to continue research on heart disease.

The West Coast Health Survey: One of the large research projects of the mid 1970s was the West Coast Health Survey. This investigation began when it was observed that there was a high incidence of cases of lymphoreticular malignancy in neighbouring communities on the West Coast of Newfoundland. In 1973, the General Hospital in St. John’s admitted a patient who had acquired immunodeficiency, and who had several relatives with Hodgkin’s disease or other malignant disorders. This situation led to a one day symposium and discussion, at which it was determined that a visit to the community would be important. This visit would involve an investigation, the scope of which would include clinical, genetic, immunological, virological and epidemiological aspects. In turn, it was hoped that a common factor among the lymphoma patients might be discovered. The original plan of investigating one family escalated in the following year to include an entire community survey. The organizational framework of this study proved useful for other research such as genetic studies, a hypertension survey, a myopia survey and an arthritis survey.

Telemedicine: The Telemedicine Centre at Memorial University, established in 1976 under the guidance of Dr. A. M. House, was officially opened in 1977. Telemedicine, later renamed the Tele-health and Educational Technology Resource Agency (TETRA), was created to provide continuing education courses for physicians, nurses and other health professionals throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Starting with the use of satellite technology in the early 1970s, TETRA has since developed proficiency with all types of information and communications systems and has acquired international recognition as one of the most advanced Tele-health and Tele-education service providers in North America. These services include conference calling, videoconferencing, and web-based technologies. Clients eventually included various levels of government and international organizations, as well as private companies.

On 25 January 2007, the Tele-health and Educational Technologies Resource Agency (TETRA) and the Office of Professional Development merged forming Professional Development & Conferencing Services (PDCS).

Educational Resources / Units

Medical Library: The Medical Library was originally set up in the Temporary Buildings on the Memorial University of Newfoundland campus. June Huntley, consultant in residence, and Dr. K. B. Roberts, associate dean of medicine, were instrumental in the development of the library and ensured that it met standards that led to its official recognition as a Medical Library in 1969.

The Medical Library moved into the Health Sciences Centre in February 1975. The library increased its mandate when it assumed responsibility for library services to the MUN School of Nursing in 1977. Shortly after this change, the name Medical Library was replaced with Health Sciences Library in recognition of its expanded role in providing library services to a broad range of health sciences disciplines.

Medical Audiovisual Services (MAVS): Originally in the Faculty of Medicine there were photographic and graphic services on a small scale. The unit was subsequently named Medical Audiovisual Services when it was formally established in 1973 with the appointment of Dr. Brian Payton as director, a position that he would hold until his retirement in 1995. MAVS’s role was not only to provide photographic and graphic services to the Medical School but also to the General Hospital and whenever possible to individuals at associated teaching hospitals. In addition to the production facilities, MAVS was responsible for the equipping, maintenance and usage of the lecture theatres and seminar rooms.

The production facilities were not only in support of teaching but also for scientific research going for publication, and clinical patient photography. Its facilities were also available for low cost productions of videotapes and slide tape programmes by faculty for particular topics. Any such material prepared by MAVS was housed in the Medical Library where equipment for viewing was also available and maintained by MAVS.

The photographic capabilities in particular covered a wide range of formats from macro-photography, slide copying, 16mm and super 8 mm film capabilities, black and white and colour video editing equipment, and large format still photography. The unit had its own black and white as well as colour film processing equipment.

In 1995, MAVS was incorporated under the umbrella of Health Sciences Information and Media Service (HSIMS).

Animal Care Unit: Dr. R. A. McAllister was appointed director of Animal Care in January 1970. Then, in November 1971, Federal Transport Minister, Mr. Don Jamieson, announced in Ottawa that the federal government’s Health Resources Fund had granted the Faculty of Medicine $210,000 to assist in the construction of a Vivarium in Pippy Park. The facility would provide suitable accommodations for the laboratory animals. The main function was research and investigation. Prior to this some animals had been housed at the St. John’s General Hospital and the Temporary Buildings. Dr. L. W. Belbeck was appointed Assistant Professor of Physiology and director of Animal Care in 1972. By February 1973, there was a breakthrough in the Faculty o Medicine when a team of scientists, headed by Dr. C. J. Hodson, discovered the cause of a common kidney ailment in children through research using miniature pigs. Dr. M. Szczepanski was appointed assistant professor of physiology and director of Animal Care, effective 1 July 1975. In 1980 the position of director was vacant but was filled in 1981 when Dr. A. F. Fraser was appointed director.

The CALAS Training Program, Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science, was established in 1967 to train technicians and technologists to a level that would allow a registry of qualified technicians and technologists. In 1975, Canada Manpower, under their Industrial Program, accepted the Faculty of Medicine’s program proposal, which commenced on 1 October of that year with seven employees in the first group. Upon completion of this program, the employees were reclassified to Animal Technician I status with an appropriate salary increase.

Summary
The words of one of the early faculty members of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Martin Tweeddale, reflect an overall image of the Medical School in its early days. In April 2007, Dr. Tweeddale wrote, “We look back with pleasure on our 13 years in Newfoundland. It was a unusual privilege to be part of a new medical school, in its infancy, and with the opportunity to participate in planning and promoting its development. Ditto with the ICU. It was all extremely hard work, but the academic and administrative environments were excellent, one had fine colleagues and there were many rewards in seeing students develop into good doctors, and the school (and the ICU) beginning to take its place on the Canadian scene.”