by Richard Schaefer on 2014-08-20
To promote the advancement of undergraduate and graduate teaching programs through financial support to the School of Medicine, in 1963 four School of Medicine alumni founded and promoted the Walter E. Macpherson Society (WEMS). Drs. Harriman F. Jones (Class of 1937), Louis L. Smith (Class of 1949), Leland R. House (Class of 1934), and Roger W. Barnes (Class of 1923), chose Dr. Macpherson’s name because he epitomized the ideal of a dedicated physician in his service to the School of Medicine and his students. These dedicated alumni dreamed that the new organization within the School of Medicine Alumni Association would foster and strengthen unity and loyalty among the School of Medicine Alumni and friends.
In 1964, 254 alumni became charter members of the Walter E. Macpherson Society. Smith became the Society’s first president. Barnes became vice president, and Henry L. Hadley (Class of 1946) became secretary-treasurer. The Society’s first board meeting in July 1964 discussed the possibility of establishing professorial chairs in the School of Medicine and approved several allocations for equipment. By December 1965, the Society had raised $45,000 of which it donated $39,000 to the School of Medicine.
The Walter E. Macpherson Society’s motto is, “Promoting excellence in medical education.” It contributes to Curriculum Enhancement Fellowships and student research scholarships and support for the Western Student Medical Research Forum held in Carmel, California each spring. Other projects include: Student/Faculty Research Awards; Teacher-of-the-Year Award; Co-host of the Senior Awards Banquet; Support for building projects (i.e. the Walter E. Macpherson Amphitheater in the Medical Center; Faculty grants for fellowships and advanced training; Equipment funding for special projects (more than $1,250,000); The Geneva K. Betty (Class of 1937) Testing Center for use in computerized National Board Examinations; Professional Chairs which fund teaching and reduce student tuition (Walter E. Macpherson Chair in internal medicine, Raymond A. Mortensen Chair in biochemistry, and the Robert F. Chinnock Chair in pediatrics).
Each May the Society presents the Teacher-of-the-Year Award at the Senior Banquet to honor at least one faculty member who has demonstrated truly outstanding teaching talent and exceptional dedication to teaching. To continue fulfilling its objectives of furthering the excellence of teaching future physicians, purchasing necessary equipment, and encouraging promising research, the Walter E. Macpherson Society solicits membership donations: $5,000 (lifetime), $150 (regular), and $50 annually (for a special membership from interns or residents, basic science faculty, full-time denominational employees, or retirees). To take advantage of this opportunity and to directly affect the quality of medical education at Loma Linda University, contact the Walter E. Macpherson Society at (909) 558-4633.
Even though Dr. Macpherson retired from Loma Linda University in 1967, he became Director of Medical Education at White Memorial Medical Center, a position he held until June 1971. In 1971, Dr. Vincent DeQuattro, the physician who succeeded Dr. Macpherson as chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at “the White” complained about how many traffic tickets he had received. He then asked Dr. Mac how many speeding tickets he had received. Dr. Mac said, “None.”
An amazed Dr. DeQuattro then asked, “How were you able to avoid one?”
Dr. Mac replied, “I never broke the law.”
Varner J. Johns, Jr., MD (CME Class of 1945), outlined Dr. Macpherson’s influence as a Christian leader: “Dr. Macpherson was a man of gentleness, patience, loyalty, honesty, unequaled unselfishness, true humility, kindness, great laconic wisdom, and incredible good judgment. He was a superb clinician and a gifted teacher. He exemplified better than any other man I have ever known, the integration of the teachings of Jesus Christ into everyday life.
Dr. Mac died in Glendale, California, at age 96 on April 29, 1996. He was the last survivor of CME’s famous Class of 1924.
During a testimonial dinner in the Biltmore Hotel on November 14, 1971, in honor of his retirement, 500 of his friends and associates heard Ronald L. Sackett, Administrator of White Memorial Medical Center, announce a plan to name the new Intern-Resident Apartment Complex, Macpherson Hall. During another tribute, David J. Bieber, EdD, president of Loma Linda University announced that the main amphitheater at Loma Linda University Medical Center would be named in his honor.