Since 1927 this department has provided both intramural and extramural educational opportunities to graduates of medicine throughout the state of Michigan as well as from other states and other countries. A prominent feature of the extramural activities of the department involves teaching sessions at 15 established centers throughout the state to which Medical School faculty members travel to hold clinical conferences and to lecture on new developments in medicine.
In 1957 some 700 Michigan physicians enrolled in this type of teaching activity. Thirteen Michigan hospitals are affiliated with The University of Michigan through the Department of Postgraduate Medicine. Interns and residents at these institutions receive periodic instruction at their home bases by University faculty members as well as by medical staff members of their own hospitals. In addition, opportunity is provided for these same postgraduate trainees to make regularly scheduled visits to the University Medical Center for additional instruction.
At the Medical Center, refresher courses are scheduled and are well attended. In the year 1958-59 about 1,200 physicians attended these intramural courses. The department works closely with the Michigan State Medical Society and with the postgraduate faculty groups at Wayne State University and at the new medical schools attached to Michigan State University.
Dr. James Bruce, the first chairman of the Department of Postgraduate Medicine, retired in 1942, to be followed by Dr. Howard Cummings who, in turn, was succeeded by Dr. John Sheldon in 1954. Following the death of Dr. Sheldon in February 1967, Dr. Towsley became chairman, serving until his retirement, June 30, 1971.
After many years of existence with inadequate facilities for administration and intramural teaching, the department moved into a splendid facility for continuing medical education made possible by gifts from the Margaret and Harry Towsley Foundation and the Herbert H. and Grace Dow Foundation of Midland. This building was occupied in 1969; since then its classrooms and auditoriums have been in constant and intensive use.
Fred J. Hodges
The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey Supplement, Pages 203, 204
