THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
a brief history

THE CHAIRS OF PATHOLOGY:

Aldred S. Warthin, M.D. 1903-1931	Carl V. Weller, M.D. 1931-1956	A. James French, M.D. 1956-1980	Peter A. Ward, M.D. 1980-2005	Jay L. Hess, M.D., Ph.D. 2005-

 

Early in the history of the University of Michigan, the "professorship of pathology" was combined with whatever other professorship happened to be handy. In 1887, the medical faculty of the University noted the Science of Pathology as one of the most important branches of medicine with instruction provided as laboratory work. The first "recognized" Professor of Pathology was N.H. Gibbs who taught a class in pathology in the third year of the four year medical school curriculum. A total of 64 hours of lecture, 50 hours of laboratory work and one autopsy, performed during the senior year of the curriculum summarized this era. Professor Gibbs' conflicts with Dean Victor Vaughn led to a regental recommendation (Regent Kiefer) to combine the professorship of pathology with that of internal medicine, thereby eliminating Professor Gibbs job. The internist/pathologist replacing Gibbs, George Dock filled this role until the appointment of Aldred Scott Warthin, M.D. as the first Chairman in 1903. Dr. Warthin, a graduate of the University of Michigan (1891), was appointed as Dock's assistant and once he had gained competency in the performance of autopsies, became the university pathologist (1895). Dr. Warthin continued in this role through 1931. A former student and assistant to Dr. Warthin, Carl V. Weller, M.D., assumed the Chairmanship of the Department of Pathology in 1931, and held this position until 1956. Dr. Warthin, in addition to his role as Chair, was also a private practitioner of Pathology and reviewed hundreds of slides each year. In 1931, the Pathology Service in the University Hospital was made full time and the question of what to do with these outside referrals came into question. It was determined that Dr. Weller could continue to receive and charge for these referrals, however, the receipts were submitted to the Treasurer of the University who would deposit these funds into the diagnostic fund. The Executive Committee of the Medical School would review this information and would use a portion of these funds to reimburse the University for the services of its faculty and staff (an early version of overhead) and would provide a supplement to Dr. Weller's salary.

Dr. Weller was succeeded by A. James French, M.D., who served as Chairman from 1956-1980. Under the direction of Dr. French, the diagnostic services of the Department of Pathology grew rapidly and, included the consolidation of the clinical laboratories into the Department of Pathology. Dr. French provided leadership, guidance and wisdom to numerous residents, faculty, medical societies and organizations. Known for his dedication to the education of young pathologists, many of today's leaders in the field either trained under, collaborated with or worked with faculty who had trained with or worked with Dr. French. In 1987, his former colleagues and trainees established the A. James French Society of Pathologists which has in excess of 150 active members and in 1995, the French Society, working with the Medical Center Development Office and the Department of Pathology established the A. James French Endowed Professorship.

In 1980, Peter A. Ward, M.D., a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and the Residency Training Program in the Department of Pathology, was appointed as the fourth Chairman of Pathology. Dr. Ward had been named Chairman at the University of Connecticut Health Center at the age of 37 and when he accepted the Chairmanship at the University of Michigan, he brought with him an international reputation as a scientist, and a well established research program. With minimal research facilities at Michigan, a major renovation followed to house the research programs, headed by Dr. Ward, and the fledgling programs being developed by the young faculty arriving at Michigan with Dr. Ward. Under the administrative direction of Dr. Ward, the Department's teaching, service and research programs continued to expand.

In 2005, Jay L. Hess, M.D., Ph.D., a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Residency Training Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, joined the faculty as the fifth and current Chair in July 2005. In the next 10 years, Dr. Hess will lead the expansion of molecular diagnostics and informatics and in the construction of a new Pathology Building to house the clinical and research programs of the Department of Pathology.

In 2001, the first Pathology Education Scholarship was named after Paul W. Gikas, M.D., Professor Emeritus. This series of scholarships, funded fully by the Department of Pathology, provide tuition for four years for one medical student, who is identified by a committee comprised of Medical School faculty. The second scholarship, in 2002, bears the name of Gerald D. Abrams, M.D., Professor Emeritus. Joseph C. Fantone, M.D., Godfrey D. Stobbe Professor in Pathology Education, and Associate Dean for Medical Education, has been honored as the faculty member named to the third scholarship (2003) and the fourth scholarship was named after Peter A. Ward, M.D. (2004). The establishment of nine endowed professorships  are also a tribute to the success of the Department and reflect the highlights of our history.