John A. D. Cooper
Encyclopedia
John A. D. Cooper 1918-2002 was an American physician
and educator.
Dr. John Allen Dicks Cooper was born on December 22, 1918 in El Paso, Texas. He grew up in the bilingual and bicultural environment of Las Cruces, New Mexico
and attended the New Mexico State University
from which he graduated with his B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1939. His interest in science and friendship with Dr. Robert J. McBride, a Las Cruces practitioner, were instrumental in his decision to pursue further education in the sciences. Dr. Cooper said, "Financially I wasn't able to go to medical school
. But fellowships for graduate work were offered by a number of schools and I chose Northwestern." In 1943, he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry. Dr. Cooper continued at Northwestern and served as a Biochemistry instructor there from 1943-1947 and as an assistant professor from 1947-1951. In 1951, he earned his M.D. from Northwestern.
This bilingual, bicultural background led to international involvement in the medical field; and for four months in 1956, Dr. Cooper lived in Brazil
where he taught the first courses for medical doctors in radioisotopes and biology. Two years later, he lived in Argentina
for four months and once again taught physicians about radioisotopes and biology. Cooper was single-handedly responsible for training most of the Latin doctors in these areas of medicine. Dr. Gabriel Velazquez-Palau, who was a visiting professor of social medicine at Harvard Medical School, once introduced Dr. Cooper as "the only Anglo-American Latin" he had ever met. Dr. Cooper pushed for forming a federation of medical colleges in South America. Although the idea was initially rejected, the Pan American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools (PAFAMS) was later formed and had a substantial effect on medical education. Dr. Cooper was on the board of PAFAMS from 1963-1976.
He also had a strong sense of service to both the medical community and the wider community it served. Dr. Cooper was an associate dean of the Northwestern Medical School from 1959-1963. He started the "Charter 25" program, which allowed students to begin medical training straight out of high school and become doctors in six rather than eight years. He directed this program and served as a full-time mentor to the program participants from 1960-1968. From 1962-1969, he served on the editorial board for the AAMC's Journal of Medical Education, was a member of the Illinois Board of Public Health Advisors, and was part of the Illinois Legislative Commission on Atomic Energy. Dr. Cooper became even more involved with the AAMC and medical education when in 1969 he was asked to become the first president of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which up until then had been run by an Executive Director. Dr. Cooper helped bring the AAMC and its role in medical education to the forefront of the public's attention. He moved the AAMC's offices from Evanston, Illinois to Washington, D.C. shortly after assuming its presidency, and rapidly established the AAMC and himself as a credible voice for medical education and research. He grew the Association from a small staff in Evanston to a staff of several hundred in Washington, organizing and operating the MCAT test, the AMCAS centralized application service, and conducting leading-edge educational research. He also expanded the AAMC's role from one of a "dean's club" to one that also spoke for medical school faculty, researchers and hospital administrators. He also helped to organize the National Intern and Resident Matching Program. In 1981, he was named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the five most influential people in medicine and health education. Dr. Cooper retired from his position as AAMC president in 1986.
He was also a writer and a scholar, and throughout his life and career as a physician, Dr. Cooper published more than 300 articles on biomedical research, medical education, health policy, and medical care in both scientific and professional journals. He was also the recipient of a number of honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Science Degree from Duke University
and an honorary Doctor of Medical Science Degree at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he received the Health Services Award by the Charleston Area Medical Center in May 1973. Dr. Cooper died on January 27, 2002 at the age of 84 in Birmingham, Alabama
.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and educator.
Dr. John Allen Dicks Cooper was born on December 22, 1918 in El Paso, Texas. He grew up in the bilingual and bicultural environment of Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
and attended the New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
from which he graduated with his B.S. degree in Chemistry in 1939. His interest in science and friendship with Dr. Robert J. McBride, a Las Cruces practitioner, were instrumental in his decision to pursue further education in the sciences. Dr. Cooper said, "Financially I wasn't able to go to medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
. But fellowships for graduate work were offered by a number of schools and I chose Northwestern." In 1943, he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry. Dr. Cooper continued at Northwestern and served as a Biochemistry instructor there from 1943-1947 and as an assistant professor from 1947-1951. In 1951, he earned his M.D. from Northwestern.
This bilingual, bicultural background led to international involvement in the medical field; and for four months in 1956, Dr. Cooper lived in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where he taught the first courses for medical doctors in radioisotopes and biology. Two years later, he lived in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
for four months and once again taught physicians about radioisotopes and biology. Cooper was single-handedly responsible for training most of the Latin doctors in these areas of medicine. Dr. Gabriel Velazquez-Palau, who was a visiting professor of social medicine at Harvard Medical School, once introduced Dr. Cooper as "the only Anglo-American Latin" he had ever met. Dr. Cooper pushed for forming a federation of medical colleges in South America. Although the idea was initially rejected, the Pan American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools (PAFAMS) was later formed and had a substantial effect on medical education. Dr. Cooper was on the board of PAFAMS from 1963-1976.
He also had a strong sense of service to both the medical community and the wider community it served. Dr. Cooper was an associate dean of the Northwestern Medical School from 1959-1963. He started the "Charter 25" program, which allowed students to begin medical training straight out of high school and become doctors in six rather than eight years. He directed this program and served as a full-time mentor to the program participants from 1960-1968. From 1962-1969, he served on the editorial board for the AAMC's Journal of Medical Education, was a member of the Illinois Board of Public Health Advisors, and was part of the Illinois Legislative Commission on Atomic Energy. Dr. Cooper became even more involved with the AAMC and medical education when in 1969 he was asked to become the first president of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which up until then had been run by an Executive Director. Dr. Cooper helped bring the AAMC and its role in medical education to the forefront of the public's attention. He moved the AAMC's offices from Evanston, Illinois to Washington, D.C. shortly after assuming its presidency, and rapidly established the AAMC and himself as a credible voice for medical education and research. He grew the Association from a small staff in Evanston to a staff of several hundred in Washington, organizing and operating the MCAT test, the AMCAS centralized application service, and conducting leading-edge educational research. He also expanded the AAMC's role from one of a "dean's club" to one that also spoke for medical school faculty, researchers and hospital administrators. He also helped to organize the National Intern and Resident Matching Program. In 1981, he was named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the five most influential people in medicine and health education. Dr. Cooper retired from his position as AAMC president in 1986.
He was also a writer and a scholar, and throughout his life and career as a physician, Dr. Cooper published more than 300 articles on biomedical research, medical education, health policy, and medical care in both scientific and professional journals. He was also the recipient of a number of honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Science Degree from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and an honorary Doctor of Medical Science Degree at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he received the Health Services Award by the Charleston Area Medical Center in May 1973. Dr. Cooper died on January 27, 2002 at the age of 84 in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.