ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

1710 NEWPORT AVENUE
New York 61, N. Y.

OFFICE OF THE DEAN

August 18, 1955

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Bacteriology
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Dr, Lederberg:

Thank you very much for your letter of August 11, I had thought that some of
the questions you raised in your letter of August 1 might be discussed at
length if you were to visit with us, However, I am glad to give you the fol-
lowing information.

The Department of Microbiology here is envisaged as a department which would
engage in teaching and research, and which will present microbiology for
students who are seeking the M.D. degree as well as for qualified graduate
students seeking the Ph.D, degree, In addition, there would be facilities
for post doctoral fellows.

It is anticipated that the full time staff of this department would consist
of 6 people on the medical school budget. At the present time no one has
been appointed to this department since we wish to give the chairman the
opportunity to staff the entire department.

With respect to the research support from the College, we anticipate that
during the first two years most of the support for research can come from
outside grants. Beginning two years hence, the University will begin to
provide budget for research, This plan has been adopted because during
this two year period we have had an expenditure of approximately 8 million
dollars for the construction of the basic science building, including its
equipment, plus the necessity of providing budget for a full time faculty
covering the four years of the medical curriculum, It has been necessary
to point a full time clinical staff almost 3 years before they will begin
teaching because our hospitals were first opened last summer and the school
has the full responsibility for providing the staff for these hospitals,

I believe that the opportunity and challenge here are something which rare-
ly come along in one's lifetime. I also realize what the assumption of
administrative duties might mean to a person's research career, However,

I have had enough experience to believe that a well organized individual
can do research, teaching and share administrative responsibilities with
other members of his department,

If there are any further questions you would like to ask, I shall be glad
Dr. Joshua Lederberg <2= August 18, 1955

to answer them. I want to say that I am certain that the superb aspects of
our program can only be best appreciated if one views them first-hand. Do
try and come and see us.

With cordial regards,

Sincerely

Qbnkarn, Wht

Abraham White
Associate Dean

AW:ms