World War II forced accelerated school year, two graduating classes, and other measures to help supply medical personnel to the war effort.
In a video message, UMB Interim President Bruce E. Jarrell recently drew parallels to the uniqueness of the graduates of 1943 and 2020, classes that had to cope with World War II and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, respectively.
World War II began in September 1939 with Germany’s invasion of Poland, but the United States did not officially become involved in the conflict until Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Not surprisingly, doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists were needed in large numbers to support the war effort and the homefront. To meet this unprecedented demand, UMB began offering year-round school in the fall of 1942 in all schools. This meant an accelerated school year with no extended summer break or long holidays. The schools graduated students in three calendar years rather than four academic years and new classes were admitted every nine months. Most schools also had programs in which qualified students could receive commissions in the Army or Navy and graduate with higher military standing. The School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and University Hospital also contributed personnel to the 42nd and 142nd general hospitals on the Pacific front.
As a result of the accelerated academic year, the schools of medicine and dentistry graduated two classes in 1943 for the first time. In the School of Medicine, the first 98 students graduated at the “normal” time on March 25, 1943 (1943M); the second class of 90 students graduated on Dec. 23, 1943 (1943D).
Similarly, the School of Dentistry (SOD) graduated 83 students in March, while 76 students graduated in December. For the first time, the School of Dentistry produced two yearbooks for the graduating class; the yearbooks are filled with remembrances and frustrations with the wartime schedule.
The future that lay ahead of these graduating doctors and dentists is described by Stanley H. Karesh, SOD Class of 1943D, in the December 1943 Mirror yearbook. He states, “As the first class to graduate in uniform, the first class to accelerate appreciably, and as dentists who expect to see action in this war, we review with pride the time and effort spent in achieving our purpose. We entered to learn; we go forth to serve.” Dr. Karesh went on to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve Dental Corps during World War II.
World War II ended in the fall of 1945 soon after the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the end of the war, the accelerated programs ended as well. Below is a chart of the number of graduates from 1943 to 1945 for each UMB school.
|
School |
Number of Graduates 1943-1945 |
|
Dentistry |
296 |
|
Medicine |
365 |
|
Nursing |
144 |
|
Pharmacy |
74 |