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