History
The Department of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University has a rich history dating back to the 1800s.
Gregory C. Kane, MD 2011- Present Day
In 1824, Dr. Joseph Klapp, along with just four other Jefferson faculty, applied for a charter from Jefferson Medical College to start a Department of Medicine. Dr. Klapp was named the Professor of Theory and Practice and would become the first chairman of the department. Dr. Klapp, an 1805 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, had a large practice and was one of the physicians to the Philadelphia Almshouse Infirmary. Since Dr. Klapp, Jefferson’s Department of Medicine has had many influential chairmen, including Dr. John Revere, son of revolutionary patriot Paul Revere; Dr. Robley Dunglison, who would go on to become the Dean of the Medical College; and Dr. Jacob M. DaCosta, a pioneer in the field of Cardiology. Jefferson’s Department of Medicine grew and by 1985 the Department Chairman, Willis C. Maddrey, had 475 Faculty Members in three Divisions, 88 Residents, two Chief Residents, and 30 Fellows.
The Department occupied five floors in the College Building and was assigned 219 teaching beds in Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, with additional medical teaching arrangements in ten affiliated Hospitals. Research grants totaled over $8 million. Today, Jefferson’s Department of Medicine still shines, with many nationally ranked departments, patient centered physicians, and excellent teachers.
Recent Chairs
Arthur M. Feldman, MD, PhD
2002-2011
Robert L. Capizzi, MD
1996-2000
Department of Medicine Chairs: 1996 - 1891
Jose F. Caro, MD
1992-1996
Willis C. Maddrey, MD
1982-1991
Frank D. Gray, Jr., MD
1976-1981
Robert I. Wise, MD, PhD, ScD
1959-1975
William A. Sodeman, MD, SeD, LRD
1957-1958
John E. Deitrick, MD
1952-1957
Hobart A. Reimann,
MD, ScD
1936-1951
Thomas McCrae, MD
1912-1935
James Wilson, MD
1891-1911
Chairs: 1891 - 1824
Jacob M. DaCosta, MD
1872-1891
Samuel H. Dickson, MD
1858-1872
John K. Mitchell, MD
1841-1858
John Revere, MD
1831-1841
Daniel Drake, MD
1830-1831
John Eberle, MD
1824-1830
Joseph Klapp, MD
1824