Interview with Ward O. Griffen, Jr., November 30, 1985

Interview Summary

Dr. Ward Griffen, Jr. (Chair of the Department of Surgery, 1967-1986) discusses becoming a surgeon, attending Princeton, Cornell, and the University of Minnesota, and then coming to the University of Kentucky as associate professor of surgery. Griffen speaks at length about the state of medical education, which he believes is in decline, and the state of medicine in general. He discusses the need for better training of medical students and the large role of technology in medicine, to the determent of patient care. Other topics include his time as the chair of surgery, analysis of Willard, Eiseman and Bosomworth's administrations, the financial end of running a teaching hospital, and the relationship of the UK and U. of Louisville medical schools.

Interview LC Subject

Academic medical centers--Kentucky--Lexington Bosomworth, Peter P., 1930- Chandler, Happy, 1898-1991 Clark, Thomas Dionysius, 1903-2005 Dickey, Frank Graves Eiseman, Ben, 1917- Griffen, Ward O., Jr. Griffen, Ward O., Jr.--Interviews Health facilities--Kentucky--Lexington Hospitals Administration Kentucky. General Assembly Kentucky. Governor (1967-1971 : Nunn) Medical education Medicine--Kentucky--Lexington Mouth--Surgery Oswald, John W. (John Wieland), 1917-1995 Physicians--Kentucky--Lexington Rural health--Kentucky Singletary, Otis A. Surgery University of Kentucky University of Kentucky. College of Medicine--History University of Kentucky. Medical Center University of Kentucky. Medical Center--History Willard, William R., 1908-

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