The Politics of Philanthropy: Abraham Flexner and Medical Education

Abstract

In this book Steven C. Wheatley, director of the American studies program for the American Council of Learned Societies, examines the career of Abraham Flexner, a leader in the movement to reform medical education during the Progressive era. There is no doubt about the significant role of Flexner, whose 1910 report on medical education in the United States and Canada helped to crystallize reform sentiment, and who until 1928 worked for the Rockefeller philanthropies as principal officer overseeing grants for medical education. Just as is the case with science, one historical researcher builds upon the works of his or her predecessors; if the researcher asks new questions, uses new sources, or utilizes statistical techniques or methods of other social sciences, the resulting study can substantially add to our understanding of historical developments. In order to place Wheatley's book in perspective, it is useful to briefly describe the recent historiography of