Robert Wigton, M.D., associate dean in the College of Medicine and professor of internal medicine, on Wednesday will start a four-part series on the history of the college.
Dr. Wigton’s first talk in the series — titled “A New Beginning, 1881-1912” — starts at noon in the Eppley Science Hall Amphitheater and free pizza will be served to the first 100 in attendance.
Below, Dr. Wigton talks more about the seminars.
Why did you decide it was time to do these seminars now?
It has been 10 years since I last presented this series. There are many students and faculty who were not here then and might like to hear about the history of the College of Medicine. Also, we’ve learned more about the history of the college since then. In addition to the three talks, I will be including a fourth talk on the events of the last 30 years — which was not presented last time.
You’re kind of known as the resident historian for the college. Why do you have such an interest in the college’s history?
Part of my interest began because my father and grandfather were faculty members of the college — they both taught neurology and psychiatry — and as a youngster I met many of the faculty and wondered what they did at the medical school. I was proud of the college’s heritage and didn’t want the stories to get lost. Also, as I attended medical school, I was intrigued by stories of the college’s past.
What part or parts of the college’s history do you find most interesting?
Most interesting to me is learning about the early faculty members that I had never met, but heard heard a lot about. I have been impressed by their dedication and perseverance in making the medical school grow and flourish through difficult times.