The Department of Internal Medicine, first officially so-called in 1908, was preceded in the history of the Medical School by professorship appointments variously designated as "The Theory and Practice of Medicine," sometimes including pediatrics, pathology, and other disciplines.
Dr. Cyrus Sturgis served brilliantly and effectively as chairman for thirty-two years until his retirement in 1959. His last years were marked by failing health, necessitating the designation of one of his outstanding professorial colleagues, Dr. Paul Barker, as Acting Chairman until the chairmanship was filled by the appointment of Dr. William Robinson in 1958.
The Sturgis era in Internal Medicine was marked by splendid patient care, brilliant teaching at all levels, and research performance of high quality.
The Simpson Memorial Institute for hematologic research, of which Dr. Sturgis was director, was well recognized nationally for its research in blood diseases, particularly pernicious anemia.
Established individually in suitably equipped quarters Drs. Harry Newburgh and Frank Wilson endowed the Department of Internal Medicine with a research output unmatched by any other clinical department of the Medical School.
Dr. Newburgh's field was nutrition and Dr. Wilson's was electrocardiography. Dr. Wilson's introduction of chest leads which made possible the discovery and localization of myocardial infarcts is in standard widespread use throughout the world today. His intensive mathematical study of the electrocardiogram led to complete reversal of the earlier-held understanding of the dextrogram and the levogram in man.
Newburgh found experimental proof for nutritional concepts by placing hired volunteer human subjects within fully controlled environmental rooms for weeks at a time.
In the latter part of this thirty-year period the staff in Internal Medicine has been very materially increased in numbers, and the number and variety of research activities has undergone corresponding increase.
Through representation on the Executive Committee, Internal Medicine has exerted strong influence in the development of Medical School policy and practice.
Fred J. Hodges
The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey Supplement, Page 194
