Why California’s Public Universities Are So Good 8/29/2023
Dear Emma,
I enjoyed your California Universities article and John Douglas's quote about the less rigid West Coast universities.
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In the 1980s, I was doing an MD PhD at Stanford. My PhD advisor moved to Oregon, and I would need to follow him for 1 year for part of my PhD work.
A friend had been at Columbia, and knew a Columbia med student who had to spend a year at the Salk Institute. This was viewed as unprecedented and challenging, requiring much work by several committees and a list of strict rules for the year-off from Columbia med school.
Wary, but armed with this, I went to see the Dean of Students at Stanford Med School. I explained my situation and the potential year away.
He said, "Great! Sounds fantastic. If you need anything, just call collect." Done deal.
I have worked on both coasts and this was an early but valid East/West contrast.
Bruce Quinn MD PhD
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
