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DEPARTMENT OF NEUROPSYCHIATRY ESTABLISHED


After serving as chief of the Department of Internal Medicine for 10 years, Dr. McKinley attained a goal he had long sought, namely a psychopathic unit. He had developed the plan and oversaw every detail of construction of the unit.  When it was completed in 1937, nothing had been omitted that would insure the safety of his mentally ill patients as well as those who cared for them. After this unit was established, his next goal was to develop a Department of Neuropsychiatry. This was accomplished in 1943 when McKinley became head of the new department. Thereafter he limited his activities to that field. However, on May II, 1945 when he was at the height of his contributions and influence, he had a cerebral hemorrhage. Like his immediate predecessor Dr. Hamilton, he was also totally disabled for five years before he died on January 3, 1950.

Dr. A. B. Baker said to me (Dr. Royal Gray) "Dr. McKinley's most outstanding quality was his total lack of personal selfishness." He was always willing and anxious to help and guide the academic and scientific development of his staff and colleagues and took great pride in their achievement. In fact, one of the greatest satisfactions one could obtain was the privilege and pleasure of being able to discuss problems with him and become infected with his enthusiasm and encouragement.  Dr. McKinley had not completed his three-volume text on Clinical Neurology. However, Dr. Baker continued with the manuscript in 1945 and published it in 1955 with the inscription "Dedicated to a great teacher of Medical Neurology, Dr. John Charnley McKinley."  When it was determined that Dr. McKinley's incapacity would be permanent, a search committee made a thorough survey for his successor. The unanimous choice was Donald W. Hastings.