The Ohio State University College of Medicine - History

History

The OSU College of Medicine and Public Health can trace its roots as far back as March 3, 1834 with the founding of the Willoughby University of Lake Erie in Willoughby, Ohio. Dr. Westel Willoughby (1789–1844), the school's namesake and first president, oversaw the operation of the school until 1843, when a disagreement among the faculty led to their resignation from the school.

In 1847 the disgruntled faculty members started the Willoughby Medical College of Columbus in Columbus, Ohio on the corner of High Street and Gay Street in half of the Clay Club house. Almost immediately upon opening, the school was contacted by Lyne Starling, a wealthy local business owner, who offered $30,000 to construct a new hospital and school complex on State and Sixth Street in Columbus. The concept of a hospital affiliated with a medical school, though commonplace now, was groundbreaking at the time.

The construction of the Starling Medical College, as the school became known, was begun in 1848 but was not completed until 1887. Dr. Starling Loving was a trustee, professor, and dean at the Starling Medical College. Dr. Loving facilitated the arrival of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis to the area to run the hospital, which was named St. Francis Hospital in 1865.

In 1875, during elections for a new chairman of the board, James Fairchild Baldwin and several faculty members left the school and in 1876 founded another medical school, the Columbus Medical College. In 1882, the Columbus Medical College began construction on a new hospital after a $10,000 gift from Dr. W.B. Hawkes. This hospital was called the Hawkes Hospital of Mt. Carmel and was operated by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

In 1892, the Columbus Medical College merged with Starling Medical College, angering James Fairchild Baldwin. In 1892, he and several faculty members resigned and started yet another medical school, the Ohio Medical University. After a donation of $5,000, the Ohio Medical University was able to build a hospital. It was named Protestant Hospital and was the forerunner of Riverside Methodist Hospitals, which still exists.

In 1907, the Ohio Medical University merged with Starling Medical College to form the Starling-Ohio Medical College. In 1914, the Starling-Ohio Medical College became affiliated with The Ohio State University.

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