Document OJk2ZV99dZ4yygQGLo4KEaYav

Jt --- \ "N o r w o o d " BRAND TO DUPLICATE THIS FOLDER ORDER SioW~V/crr> icke NO. 91-1 / 2 MADE IN U. S. A, uean College of Medicine \ 00 C\ HE 0015983 1 Dr. Clifford G. Grulee, Jr. Dean* College of Medicine Dear Bud: I am sending, herewith, a memorandum, In which I have set forth some of my views concerning the policies of the Kettering Laboratory, as they have existed in the past, and as they seem to me to be pointed toward the ' future. This memo has not been made available to any perso other than yourself, I send you a carbon copy, however, fo such disposition as you may wish to make of it. I have written to Dr. Radford about certain matte concerned with the functions of certain individuals and groups within the staff, for such use as it may be to him. In this letter, as well as in the enclosed memorandum, I am making my own views as clear as I can, with the idea of putting them up for consideration. In neither instance do I expect to go beyond what I have said, unless I am request to do so, nor will I press for the acceptance of my views in any other manner. After June 30, I shall be silent on these matters except as you or Dr. Radford may ask me to speak. Sincerely yours, RAK:meh Enclosure Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. Considering the financial position of this Departm with particular reference to that of the Kettering Laborator at the time of my retirement, I think I should explain my vi of the situation, comment on its meaning in relation to the future, and let you know, formally, that I have no intentio of leaving the matter as it now stands, if I nay, with your consent and that of Dr, Radford, do what I think can and sh be done. My reasons for my attitude, at tills time, have to in part with the fact that the factors which were (and are) responsible for the situation operated during my administra of the affairs of the Department, Much more importantly, h chare is real danger, I believe, that the situation may be interpreted and may lead to a radical change in the policy the University v/lth reference to several features of the future status and function of the Laboratory In the Medical Center, Certain aspects of this matter are not likely to b presented to the Administration of the University with appr priate clarity and vigor, unless I speak of them in the lig of the purposes and functions of the Kettering Laboratory i this Institution in the past, and the role, in medical edu cation and practice, that has come to be attached to it on basis of its performance* There is not, I believe, any imm N1  with certainty as to their proper appraisal of the pa3t in relation to the future. They represent the cumulative ex perience of forty years in an attempt to interpret American society and the trend of medicine and medical education ther They are what I have come to believe, and I would be remiss 1 were not, to present them for consideration when I relinqui the helm. First of all, let me express my profound conviction boat in the field of medicine and medical education, industr medicine represents the area that is in most urgent need of development. The reasons for this are two, 1.) it is the area that involves the greatest present and future threat to public confide the largest segment of our population, and also, to/the visi > and adaptability of the medical profession in meeting its responsibilities. 2.) It is the most meagerly manned and exploited major area in American medicine. I think I need not present the overwhelming evidence that Is at hand in support of these statements, in view of what I (and others) have written on the subject. There is a present trend, on the part of several professional organisations, especially the American Medic among the Association, and / schools that have been identified with research and education in industrial medicine, to seek prima cine* it cannot be criticised severely* although it may not be timed advantageouslyt Where it has abandoned Industry* as the site of principal activity, because of inability to penetrate industry successfully, or unwillingness to try to it is a seemingly unavoidable* strategic change in directio Where it has come about as an expression of a feeling that collaboration of a university or college with industry is somehow improper* as being tainted with commercialism and economic bias, it may be mainly an expression of timidity* it is, in fact a gross failure to interpret the times* and renunciation of the function of a university to lead and gu in the professional and cultural evolution of our society. Incidentally, Margaret Mead said something on this score in her commencement address. One can disagree with her, but i would be well to be quite sure of the basis of such disagre This trend is unfortunate* for the collaboration Industry and a university medical canter in professional training in industrial medicine is a natural and necessary development* Moreover, industrial medicine and industrial hygiene - the two essential disciplines in industrial healt in their methodology and their ultimate goals, are the esse part in the training and practice in environmental health ( KF 0015987 by the developments of industrial technology, Hits brings me to consider the dangers, as well a the advantages, of relying heavily upon federal funds in support of this Laboratory. Apart from the urgent need of the Laboratory for financial help at present, and the propri ety of the utilization of such fluids for specific purposes, (I shall comment on these matters, later), dependence upon such funds is unwise for several reasons. There is a disti distrust, sometimes subtle and sometimes outspoken, on the part of certain governmental servants and agencies, of the motives and performance of industry. (Ho doubt, this feeli is reciprocated in industry.) Because of the working relati ships of this Laboratory with industry, this distrust of ou position has expressed itself h a variety of ways. Quite apart from the fact, often displayed, that the financial support of specific activities in communities and extra governmental Institutions by the Federal government is unre liable, often quixotic, and always subject to major and min political currents, the direct subsidisation of the Laborat is fraught with the grave risk of the compulsion to movo, in its work in the direction of governmental thinking and poli as to both methods and motivation, There would be many oth minor difficulties such as the lack of sufficient funds for overhead expense, the excessive amount of negotiation and KE' 0015988 of the association of the Laboratory \iith industry. I an sure that the collaboration of this Laborato with a number of governmental agencies is both feasible and essential. Many of the people in these agencies are able scientists, respected colleagues, and persons with whom one pleased and benefitted to associate. Our working relations in the past with the people in our own and related fields, been above reproach* The scientific rapport and the person friendships with these excellent people, should not blind u however, to the risks, of which I have spoken, which are activated outside their ranks. Our good relationships with scientific and professional personnel have stemmed from the worth of our work, from our Independence, and from the rela ships with sound technical people in industry that have ena us, in many instances, to provide a trustworthy liaison bet the two. Our associations with our colleagues in the Depar ment of Agriculture, the Pood and Drugs Administration, the working, and some of the administrative, personnel in the Pub Health Service, the Army, Havy and Air Force have been most agreeable and mutually beneficial. These can be maintained without difficulty and with professional and financial adva but they are on their best footing when the professional po of the Laboratory is Independent. justified and productive. In fact, it is evident that It i a requisite for certain professional and academic purposes functions, since these cannot be carried out, successfully, otherwise. These relationships therefore must not be allow to suffer attenuation. The most important asset of the Kettering Laboratory, in the prosecution of its own goals, in its contribution to the University of Cincinnati, and in its larger contribution to Industrial medicine and industri hygiene in the United States (and beyond), lies in its acce threats to American industry. I shall try to show why thase/statsments are true, and why it is essential to the progress of Laboratory that this asset be retained, exploited and amplif Medical and hygienic investigators of the threats * threats to our people and the society of our time, as these/have be and will continue to be associated with modern technology, have easy access to industry, in which the work of technica research and development, and the applications of such rese are based. Here arc the hygienic problems, and here are th most affected people. Most of what we know, for certain, o these matters has come from investigations within industry. The remedies for pollution of the air, water and food must out of modifications of industrial technical practice. The modifications may conceivably arise, in part, out of resear KE 00159-90 industry of the facts of life, as learned mainly from experience, but also from research and practice in industri medicine and hygiene. In the American scene, this is the w they should come. There is urgent need of trained personne in industry to aecelier&te the awareness of industrial mana ment of its responsibilities and of the opportunities that from them, in carrying out the necessary work in the applic of available knowledge, and in protecting the lives and hea o? the people who work, (It Is difficult to portray, adequately, the urgency of this need, at present and in the immediate future, without indulging in lurid language. The temptation to use such language, which is self-defeating, i great, in view of the apathy of the medical profession.) If it seems necessary to have access to industry, in order to investigate technologic hazards, it is much mor readily apparent to anyone with experience In technical, me and hygienic education, that the availability of the ''clini material" of the field is a primary requisite far professio training, rivaled only by the availability of competent instructors. It is not possible to attract and then to trai professional people In this field, in competition with the oppoi'tunities now afforded to technical and medical people KJT 0015991 society through the effective practice of occupational medic and hygiene, unless there is a theatre In which to learn, to investigate and to demonstrate# Such a theatre exists for the tutelage of graduate students (medical and hygienic residents in training) in the Institute of Industrial Health of this University, This theatre can be enlarged and improv in the future, as it has grown from nothing to modest dimens in the past, Now, to come to the matter of what I should like to do. During the past two or more years it has been imposs for me to seek out and obtain the financial support of indus to tiie extent that this should have been done, I have been heavily engaged in keeping the work of the Department going, * of doing what I could to maintain the graduate educational efforts of the staXM? to support the slumping morale of the personnel, that I have had little time to do more than to cultivate good relations 'with present sponsors at every oppo that presented itself from day to day. There is a splendid opportunity now for me to cultivate the interests of old and new industrial sponsors, and I am willing and anxious to mak a concerted effort In this direction, after my return (in November or December) from Chile* KJ- 001599.2 that now exists. I ex-pact to do something about this, and the administration can deal with it temporarily, without se consquences, I expect to work toward its elimination. The deficit in the Building fund can be made good, without, seri difficulty, while that represented in operating funds can b reduced greatly. There is need for operating funds for what may properly be termed Research and Development. I an reasonab cure that general funds for this purpose can be obtained fr a number of industries on an annual basis. This needs only be followed up by personal visits and some additional corre spondence I started to do this late in If6b, but X have n been able to find the time to continue It, * ' Endowment funds, the Income of which can be used, primarily, for the maintenance of salaries on a limited but secure basis, with respect to tenure and other benefits, ca also be obtained from industrial organisations, perhaps fou dations and certainly persons, who would not look favorabl on annual contributions, but would make a single contributi at on appropriate time. I have in mind, and have broached the subject to certain interested persons, a procedure for soliciting thes tie 0015993 There is another very important function to be performed soon. X have found out from a number of sources, including alumni of the Institute who are in highly respons positions, that it is thought, by a number of industrial executives, that the Kettering Laboratory is too much invol with the problems of a few industries with which we have be associated for many years, to be interested in other connec Through friends and associates, I can make contact with a n of these people, and seek to establish professional relatio ships that will be mutually beneficial. Tills can hardly be done by correspondence, and not at all by the pseudo-advert practice of distributing brochures. My purpose here would be to solidify the position the Laboratory, but say larger purpose would be to further t development of industrial medicine or, if you wish, Occupat Medicine. I and a number of discerning associates are deep concerned by the drift away from an appropriate emphasis on professional development of this field. If we In medicine are to fulfill our responsibilities to the citizens of this country, and if v;e are not to be eclipsed by the engineers this hygienic field, to the great disadvantage of our peopl we must bestir ourselves soon. K E 001599.4 distrust my successor. It is rather that I feel the nscess of saying what I thinh should be said. I shall abide by yo Judgment, and that of the Faculty of this School, as I have been pleased to do in the past, aa to the degree and type effort which I can put forth appropriately. Ju n e 28, i 960 Robert A. Kehoe, I-'.D Director K B 0015995