Washington University School of Medicine

Great medical schools of the 20th century nurture the creative energies of incredibly gifted students, teachers, investigators, practitioners, and community servants. Their development attests to the diligence of wise thinkers and planners-true visionaries who made bold, imaginative choices. In 1891, however, not even the most daring visionary would have predicted greatness for the newly created Medical Department of Washington University, then one of nearly a dozen medical colleges in St Louis alone. It was during the first decade of this century that the leadership of Washington University resolved to build an outstanding medical school. Although many contributed, much credit can be assigned to three men: Robert Summers Brookings, chairman of the Washington University Corp; David F. Houston, chancellor of the university; and Abraham Flexner, pioneer reformer of American medical education as representative of the Carne