Class of 1949: 60th Reunion

We were the oldest reunion class this year, which may explain some of our delight at receiving a copy of our class photo in our registration packet taken about the time of medical school graduation in 1949. Five of us attended this 60th reunion of our class: Bill Anlyan, Bud Baldwin, Bill Bevis (and wife Dottie), Jack Miller (and wife Anne), and Martha Vaughan. Each of our careers involved quite a different mix of patient care, teaching, research, and administration, but we agreed that the Yale School of Medicine had provided a superb springboard for all of us. What we learned at this reunion gives us confidence that Yale medical students continue to receive the preparation they need to become leaders in our rapidly changing profession.

At our 55th reunion we had been impressed by the great expansion of the medical school’s physical plant—especially the opening of The Anlyan Center—and the innovative changes being introduced into medical education. This year, we marveled at the continuing growth, including the development of a new West Campus, which will make possible several important research initiatives. Dean Alpern informed us that medical school admissions will not be increased at this time. He said that the school’s primary goal is to prepare the leaders of 21st-century medicine, and stressed that the Yale system of medical education, which puts the student in charge of the learning process, is a key factor in this preparation. We heartily approved.

The informal lunches at Harkness and the reception and dinner on Saturday night at the Omni Hotel provided wonderful opportunities for chatting with classmates and other alumni. Our only regret was that more of our classmates did not participate. The varied activities each day enabled each of us to learn more about particular changes going on at Yale Medical Center. Some of us chose to use break time to visit such treasured places on campus as the art galleries and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, with its current exhibit of Carl Van Vechten’s photographs of black performing artists. We hope to come back again!

Orlando Miller