Class Notes

Ross H. Musgrave Problem-Based Learning Room Dedicated

With a quote from Katharine Graham, the late publisher of the Washington Post , Ross H. Musgrave, MD ’43, summed up his feelings at the dedication of the Musgrave Problem Based Learning Room at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine: “When you do what you love, and feel that it matters, what could be more fun?” At a reception held on October 28, 2004, colleagues, classmates, friends, and students gathered to honor the man who has been a part of Pitt Med for 61 years, as a student, as a member of the faculty, as executive director of the alumni association, as the first faculty adviser to the Scope and Scalpel production, and as a mentor to generations of students.

Joan Harvey, MD, associate dean for student affairs, offered a few remembrances of Ross. “When I think of Ross, the image comes to mind of him at the bottom of lecture room 5 in front of any one of many, many freshman classes that he has welcomed to the University of Pittsburgh,” she said. “He always gave the most meaningful and most memorable introductions. He spoke in parables, he used wonderful quotations, he spoke wise words, and, of course, he sang.”

Dr. Harvey gave her best impersonation of Dr. Musgrave singing “Tradition” from the Broadway favorite Fiddler on the Roof , and used tradition as her theme in describing Ross’ good works at the school. “The Musgrave Tradition in two words is ‘student centered,’” she said. “The Musgrave Tradition in four words is ‘wise and caring mentor.’”

She described how Ross kept note cards on all the students he advised, listing personal information, the names of their significant others, their hobbies. “He would take them to lunch and have them over to his home,” said Dr. Harvey. “If they were in trouble he would reach out and help them, and when they were successful, he put in an extra word to help them with special opportunities.”

Ross remembered how he had been “bowled over” when, at his retirement last year, Arthur Levine, MD, dean of the school of medicine, announced that a room in the school would be named in his honor. “You notice outside it says The Musgrave Room, and I’m delighted it says The Musgrave Room and not The Ross Musgrave Room,” he said, “because much of the credit of my career here is due to my fabulous wife of 57 years, who helped me with the Scope and Scalpel costumes, who cooked hamburgers for the people who were writing the show for the first eight, nine years when I was on the board.”

As always focused on the students, Ross had a few final thoughts about the ways Pitt Med has changed over the years, and what makes it a top institution. “Our students make this school,” he said. “With problem-based learning, the students become each others’ mentors, and that’s what makes this school as great as it is.”