Spring 1966

Winter 1985

Spring 1966

“ ‘If I understand the Yale System correctly, its aim is to minimize compulsion and maximize diversity in the experience of the student, to minimize conformity in medical thought and maximize independent critical thinking by the student, to provide each student with a personal experience in scientific medicine by providing the stimulus and facilities for a scholarly inquiry by all. Systems possess little intrinsic merit in themselves; their merit lies in what they attempt to accomplish and the magnitude of their accomplishment. By seeking the expression of the best independent critical thought of its students, in my opinion the Yale System provides its students with the best preparation for medicine of the future. True, occasionally an errant student may adopt positions distasteful to his mentors. But quickly we, who are the faculty, learn that this is in reality the best consequence of the educational system. Unless the young seek to improve and change they are not worthy. Without conflict, there is no progress. No doubt it is impossible to express in quantitative terms the accomplishments of the Yale System of medical education. Nonetheless, many of us who have experienced it are deeply grateful.’ ”

—Halsted R. Holman, M.D. ’49, chair of the Department of Medicine at Stanford, speaking at the dedication of the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation.

Winter 1985:

“Plans are finalized and construction will begin soon of an ambulatory care facility that will consolidate clinics and offices of the Faculty Practice Plan [precursor of the Yale Medical Group] which are currently scattered in 17 locations throughout the Medical Center. … The four-story glass, concrete and brick building will be located on the southeast corner of Howard and Davenport avenues. With adjacent parking and a pedestrian bridge to the hospital, the new facility will include specialty and consultative services, X-ray and laboratory services, and a pharmacy. It will not include hospital beds or one-day surgery facilities.

The Yale Faculty Practice Plan was established in 1981 to bring together administrative, management and billing and collection activities of the existing clinical practice of the full-time faculty. … The building [known today as the Yale Physician’s Building] of about 90,000 square feet will be constructed at an estimated cost of $9 million on land presently owned by the Hospital and used as part of a parking lot.”