Evening star., 1947-11-18
Training Negro Doctors
Howard Supplies Half the Nations Total and Seeks
Additional Opportunities to Turn Out More
By Thomas G.. Buchanan

of their students, because OF limited opportu-
nifty for practical experience In observing
patients, handicap the Negro medical profess
sion when these students enter private practice.
A report issued by Gallinger Hospital In
March placed the total students in the Junior
and senior classes of each school as follows:
George Washington, 16O Georgetown, ia;
Howard 126. 1t set the daily average Of pa
tients these students could observe at GAL
linger at 874; at Freedmen's, 418. The survey
concluded that George Washington and
Georgetown students average 26 patients
apiece, while Howard students have s.s.
If Howard shared the Gallinger patients and
retained its present relationship to Freedmens,
it was argued, the Howard student would have
an average Of So patients, while those enrolled
at the other schools would be left with only 19.
Since this survey, Howard officials point out,
Georgetown has opened a new 407-bed hospital,
and George Washington's 405 bed hospital will
be available in few months. Officials of both
institutions have publicly stated their emphasis
will be on teaching medical technique at these
hospitals. Thus, 1t is argued, Georgetown and
George Washington medical students have
nearly doubled their patient ALLEGATION and
can afford to give up some of their Gallinger
patients.
Where Special Training Is Needed.
Howard officials say their students cannot
get proper training in contagious diseases or
mental disorders. Freedmen's Hospital, consist
ing chiefly of crowded wards, is not equipped
to isolate more than few contagious cases. 1t
has no psychiatric patients. Offers to let stu
dents come to Gallingers contagious ward and
st. Elizabeths Hospital for observation of Negro
mental cases once week for one semester are
no solution to the problem Howard spokesmen
feel. Proper training, they say, can only be
given If Howard instructors are on the hospital
staff, instead of mere observers like their
students.
Obstacles to the division of Gallnger facili-
ties among three medical schools are these:
1. Lack Of teaching space. Gallinger is al
ready a training school for student nurses,
internes and two groups of medical students.
DR.. Alvin R. Sweeney, superintendent, thinks
1t would be impossible" to find room for
third group. Howard officials reply that the
space problem could be solved by conducting
the training in mixed groups, leaving any spe-
cial instruction to be given at the separate
hospitals with which each school is affiliated.
The best qualified instructor would be in charge
1T each group, under this plan, regardless OF
his medical school affliation.
instructors. There are only 100 Negro doctors
In town. Since they cannot practice in any
hospital but Freedmen's, few are now qualified
to join the Gallinger staff, according to Health
Department officials Howard spokesmen con-
cede they could not at once provide a third OF
the Gallinger staff, but say Inequalities due
to past discrimination do not justify continued
discrimination" that bars colored doctors from
hospital practice. If Negro doctors lack suffi
cient training to qualify for staff positions at
Gallinger, they contend, the hospital should
give them chance to get that training.
3. Lack of bi-racial experience in Washington
hospitals. Mixed medical staffs and nonsegre-
gated patients are already in effect at such
institutions as Cleveland City Hospital, Bellevue
and Harlem Hospitals in New York City, Boston
City Hospital and smaller institutions as far
South as Houston, Tex. Negro doctors have
been admitted to the visiting staff at nearby
Alexandria Hospital, but no private hospital
here has yet adopted the policy.