A Brief History of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences by G. David Anderson, University Archivist Page: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7

Four years after the turn of the century, the Columbian University Medical School and Hospital were rededicated The George Washington University Medical School and Hospital. Its faculty boasted many of the nation's most prominent doctors: Major Walter Reed, who identified the mosquito as the carrier of yellow fever; his associate, Dr. James Carroll; Dr. Theobald Smith, whose pioneering research identifying germs as the cause of diseases changed the course of medicine; Dr. Frederick Russell, who introduced typhoid vaccine into the Army; and Dr. A. F. A. King, whose Manual of Obstetrics was the standard at that time.

Under the leadership of William C. Border, who served as Dean from 1909 to 1930, the medical school continued to produce outstanding young doctors who proved GW's excellence again and again by performing outstandingly before state examining boards. In 1917 the admissions requirements were increased to one year of college work with an emphasis in science.

In 1928 the Department of Medicine became the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, and the University Hospital. In 1931 Dr. Baldwin McKinley was appointed professor of bacteriology and Dean of the Medical School. Dr. McKinley's keen interest in scientific research paved the way for the erection of a four-story laboratory behind the Medical School. With this new facility, GW faculty brought national attention to the medical school through their research efforts.

With the encouragement of former Dean Border, Dr. Claude Moore became the chief of radiology and created one of the most modern radiology units of the early 1930's. Also of note was Dr. Vincent deVigneaud, who did most of his important research while a professor of biochemistry at the medical school and was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1955.

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