Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-12
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
ON TOPICS OF THE DAY
The Shortage of Rural PhysIcInn. and
the Location OF the state
Medical School

~
TO the Editor OF Tho Times Dispatch:
Sir.--in your issue of August DR.
beverley Il, Tucker again urges rs an
argument in favor OF tho location OF
he single stat. supported Medical
school in Richmond the alleged short
age OF physicians in Virginia and
especially In the rural districts, and
he cites the result of the straw vote
east by certain physicians, dentists
pharmacists ana clcrEymcn as an cX-
preston Of opinion on the part OF
those casting this vote that Richmond
location Is necessary to meet this al
legged shortage
II is difficult TO see the casual CON
rcction between the location Of the
medical school ana the supply OF phv-
sicians to rural districts except on
the assumption that a schooi located
In !t!chmond can graduate so large Il
numhcr of physicians that some or
them Will be forced by economic ne
ccSs!ty To engage III rural practice.
Now it so happens that the majority
report of the Commission on Medical
Education. signed by DR. Tucker.
takes. to say the least OF it. a much
more guarded position with regard
to the problem OF providing for the
medical needs Of rural districts. ON
page II Of this report we read.
1t must be remembered that the
shortage of physicians In certain
rural sections Of the state may not
be entirely overcome by any plan ot
medical education as now coutom-
plated. because this shortage is large
~ du" 20 economic ana sociological
considerations"
Again on page IS very guarded
statcinen: on tins subject is made as
follows:
The greatest medical need at
rrcscn; IL for physicians in the rural
districts Of the state. Up Ia this
time the Medical College OF Virginia
has sent Ear more doctors into rural
Virginia than the medical depart
mcnt OF the University OF Virginia.
There is no reason to tclicvc that
locating III. consolidated schnol Al
Richmond would result In serving tn.
rural sections less effectively, bat on
the other hand II is believed that Il
would mean serving tncsr sections
more effectively than IL the s"hool
were located at charlottesville. While
there is a great lack OF physir'gus.
IL would be unwlsc TO lower tho
standards OF preparation In der I"
increase the nuitIcr The m" i!"1l
s'hool hoirE department ~ N"
state University Will Insure the -,H m
tcnauc. ~ high standards. aud a, tho
same time offer every possible induce
mont to sti!crts 20 properly uronr"a
themselves br this cost important
work"
IL Is to +" noted tbat tho majority
members or tn" commission. iucluTii=
Or Tucker. wisnly refrain from any
confident ;.+s.:-tirr That EIClmoui
location viii graduate more ma an
nuaily than CniSc--ity location, they
modcs'ly express an opinion ;ha' It
would result i'm serving the TIval
sections more effectively. although /
ind no reasons for this taith else
whcr. In til" report
II seems 10 the writer that there
is no ground for this opinion. At
present the two schools Of the state
are admitting abou, l2O-l3o students
Of medicine annually. This means a
total enrolment OF about 400 students
and graduating classes OF 1" 10 100.
On pages - and IL OF the majority
report It Is evident that the major
lily members have in mind school
Of this size, and In this respect the
minority members are in agreement
with the majority members.
The writer has shown thai Al! the
s,trf tuFftt.tl SCHOOLS OF amer tis. are
limiting their catering classes To a
maximum Of 100 men. for experience
has shown that one medical faculty
cannot take care OF larger classes.
Dr Tucker has also committed him
self to the proposition that the COM
bincd Virginia school must be one Of
these better schools. as is shown on
pngc II OF the majority report
Whatever plan OF location Is
adopted. the consolidated school must
he maintained according to tho high
est standards OF medical education in
America Both institutions. are now
in the highest rank-cIass y OF the
American Medical Association: but
this organization has already an
nounccd its intention Of rc-estab!Ish-
ing u higher Gradc-Class y plus
and Virginia cannot afford To tie in
any lower group. The type OF insii
tuition is more important than its
location"
II is therefore clear that the adop
ton of the plans proposed N th"
majority report VIII not increase the
number Of graduates. II this be true.
these men will no more be forced by
economic necessity to locate In rural
districts than they are today.
1t is not fair 10 our rural districts
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