Louisiana State university school of medicine, which began and completed its work under the wartime accelerated program of study, received diplomas at commencement exercises Wednesday night in the Municipal Auditorium.
Dr. Roy R. Kracke, dean of the University of Alabama school of medicine and noted hematologist, told the graduates that the evolution of plans to provide adequate medical service to a larger group of people is "one of the finest ways the young graduate of today can discharge his obligation to society and repay his debt to the state."
Dr. Kracke said the time has come when those of the medical profession "should withdraw their heads from the sand and recognize that all is not right with the distribution of medical care." He blamed the "contented and reactionary attitude of organized medicine in this country" for what he termed the failure of the medical profession to engage in "frontier thinking." [PHOTO CAPTION READS]: HONOR .L. S. U. GRADUATES—-Leadingstudents (top) in the 1944 class of the Louisiana State University school of medicine which was graduated Wednesday night were (left to-right) Elliott" Charles Roy, Mansura, La., who received the Bel award; Harry Benjamin Caplan, New Orleans, recipient of the Walter Reed Memorial Prize for the most meritorious essay in tropical medicine or public health; James Conrad Decuers, Wes.twego, highest record in pathology who received the Major award, and Anna M. Costanza, Independence, highest ranking woman student. At bottom are (left to right) Dr. B. I. Burns, dean of the L. S. U. school of medicine; Dr. Roy Rachford Kracke, .dean of the University of Alabama school of medicine and principal speaker at the ceremonies, and Dr. William Bass Hatcher, president of Louisiana State university.
