The Tallahassee College of Medicine and Surgery was a short lived medical school that was part of the University of Florida, and that moved to Lake City before it ceased to exist.

In 1949, the Lippard Report, created by a commission headed by Dr. Vernon Lippard, recommended siting the state medical school in Gainesville

Dr. J. Hillis Miller made creation of a Health Center one of the goals of his presidency at the University of Florida. Although he passed away before construction began, he did design a study to plan for a center that would include a number of colleges- Dentistry, Health Related Services (now the College of Public Health and Health Professions), Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy (which opened on campus in 1923), and Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Russell Poor came from Oak Ridge to head the study that would create a health center meeting Florida’s current and future health needs.

The Medical Center Study, commissioned by Dr. Miller and headed by Dr. Russell Poor, was published in 5 volumes.

Dr. George T. Harrell explains plans for continued growth of the Health Science Center to Wendell Stanley (center) and Dr. Russell Poor. Dr. Harrell served as a consultant for the Medical Center Study, and then, because of his skills in planning and grasp of issues involved in setting up a new medical school, was hired as founding dean of the College of Medicine.

Medical students from the first class, Betty Robinson and William Bailey, College of Medicine, pose in front of plans for the Health Center at the Health Center booth.

Blocks showing the planned Health Center. Dr. Harrell used blocks to show the plans for a staged series of construction projects that would create the Health Science Center

The field where the Health Center now stands, showing plans for the Medical Science Building.

Groundbreaking for the Medical Sciences Building in 1954. This was the first in the staged series of contstruction. It was completed and dedicated in 1956, in time for the entering classes of the Colleges of Medicine and Nursing to attend classes there.

Groundbreaking with (from left) Jefferson Hamilton, University architect, Dr. George T. Harrell and Dr. Russell Poor.

Construction.

Aerial view of construction of the Medical Sciences Building.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital. Included in the photograph are: J. Wayne Reitz(on the far right), Dorothy Smith, founding Dean of the College of Nursing, Samuel Martin, chairman of the Department of Medicine and later Provost (Vice President) of the Health Science Center.

Dean Dorothy Smith and members of the first class of the College of Nursing.

First patient admitted to the hospital, in 1958, with Dr. Richard Smith, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics.