Weill Cornell Medicine: A History of Cornell's Medical School

Weill Cornell Medicine is a valuable contribution to the history of medical education in the United States. There are relatively few histories of medical schools, and most are celebratory volumes that do not incorporate information gleaned from archival records. This institutional history provides insight into the challenges Cornell Medical College has faced since it was established by the trustees of Cornell University in 1898. The authors relied on internal reports, newspaper stories, interviews, and first-hand knowledge to explain how a series of deans and other top administrators confronted problems and seized opportunities.

Weill Cornell Medicine is a candid, well-researched, and engaging study of an American medical school as told from the perspective of each of its deans-the first traveling in his own horse and carriage, the last flying routinely across the world. The remarkable individuals described here define the personality and scope of the enterprise, make bold efforts to change as the external climate changes, tussle with the associated hospital, plan mergers (the first in 1912), sponsor new buildings, and chase the money to fulfill their dreams. Each medical school has its own idiosyncratic history, with the history of Weill Cornell Medicine intimately tied to the generosity of New York philanthropists. By focusing on leadership, however, the authors fill a hole in the broader historical literature on medical education and medical institutions. This is a great read. The dean's job is never easy!

Antonio M. Gotto Jr., MD, and Jennifer Moon have provided an insightful, engaging, authoritative account of a great medical school, enlivened and enriched by their own participation in the school's development and their personal knowledge of many of the important figures in its history. Those interested in Weill Cornell Medicine will enjoy this book; so will readers interested in medical education and higher education more generally.

Weill Cornell Medicine is a well-written, fascinating review and analysis of the history and transformation of one prominent American academic medical institution. More important, this story illuminates the seismic changes that have occurred over the past century in biomedical science in general and medical schools in particular. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the past, present, and future of American medicine and medical training.