As soon as the transfer of Cooper Medical College properties to Stanford was decided upon in 1908, but before the actual transfer was completed in 1909, President Jordan begins to pursue intensively the important work of converting Cooper Medical College to a University medical Department. As the first step he appoints a Committee of Three to consider the organization and entrance requirements of the Medical Department, and adaptation of the medical course to related work in the existing departments of the University.
The Committee of Three also arranged for the appointment of a Provisional Medical Faculty consisting of twelve professors and three associate professors who already belonged to the Cooper or Stanford Faculty, and would doubtless be engaged in the future work of the Medical Department. Meanwhile they would serve as an advisory committee to the President with special reference to the teaching program of the Department.
The Committee of Three and the Provisional Faculty proceeded to prepare the
following:
Plan for the organization of the Medical Department
Requirements for Admission
The Curriculum in Medicine
Fee Schedule
Requirements for Graduation
Appointment of Additional Basic Science Faculty. President Jordan's determination to bring Stanford's new medical Department to University level as soon as possible was evident in his prompt appointment of five new basic science faculty members to strengthen the teaching and research program. The Old Museum Buildings on the campus are renovated to provide them with offices and labs.
During consolidation negotiations it is decided that the last class of Cooper Medical College would be admitted on 17 August 1908 and would graduate on 9 May 1912; and that the first class of Stanford University's Department of Medicine would begin on 8 September 1909 and graduate on 19 May 1913.
Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur assumes his duties as Executive Head, Department of Medicine, on 1 January 1911.
The Flexner Report of 1910 is highly critical of Cooper Medical College. These criticisms are countered in a long letter from Dean Gibbons to President Pritchett of the Carnegie Foundation, from whom Dean Gibbons receives a sharp response.
An outline of Flexner's Master Plan for American Medical Education is included.