Claire Dawson
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011. The center was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who led a team that discovered that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct physical contact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Walter Reed |
| Birth Year | 1851 |
| Death Year | 1902 |
| Occupation | U.S. Army Physician and Major |
| Achievements | Led the team that confirmed yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes |
| Medical Center Named After Him | Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) |
| Other Names for the Medical Center | Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Year Established | 1909 |
| Purpose | Served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces |
| Capacity | Started with 80 beds and expanded to approximately 5,500 rooms |
| Architectural Design | Marah & Peter |
| Construction Contract | Cramp & Company |
| Initiator and Planner | Lieutenant Colonel William Cline Borden |
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What You'll Learn
Walter Reed's medical career
Walter Reed was a U.S. Army physician and Major who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He is best known for his work in confirming that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct physical contact. This discovery was a pivotal moment in the advancement of epidemiology and biomedicine and had a significant impact on the completion of the Panama Canal.
Reed's medical career began with his enrolment at the University of Virginia, where he obtained his first M.D. degree in 1869, two months before turning 18. He was the youngest recipient of an M.D. from the university. Reed then pursued further medical studies at New York University's Bellevue Hospital Medical College, obtaining a second M.D. degree in 1870. He gained clinical experience by interning at several hospitals in New York City before working for the New York Board of Health until 1875.
In 1876, Reed married Emily Blackwell Lawrence, and they moved West together. The couple had two children: a son, Walter Lawrence Reed, and a daughter, Emily Lawrence Reed. After his marriage and a brief stint working in New York, Reed joined the U.S. Army as a physician. He dedicated his career to improving military healthcare and played a crucial role in understanding and combating yellow fever, a disease that once ravaged military encampments.
Reed's leadership and expertise were instrumental in establishing the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), formerly known as the Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH). The medical centre opened its doors on May 1, 1909, seven years after his death, and became the U.S. Army's flagship medical centre from 1909 to 2011. Located in Washington, D.C., it served over 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The hospital started with a 50-bed capacity and expanded over the years, reflecting the growing demand for military healthcare.
Reed's legacy extends beyond the medical centre that bears his name. His contributions to the understanding and prevention of yellow fever were recognised with the establishment of the Walter Reed Tropical Medicine Course and the Walter Reed Medal, awarded posthumously in 1912. Additionally, various institutions and locations have been named after him, including the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Reed Hall at Radford College, and the Riverside Walter Reed Hospital near his birthplace in Gloucester, Virginia.
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The founding of Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011. It was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct physical contact.
The history of the medical center dates back to the 1890s when the health clinic was used as an Army General Hospital for training physicians, corpsmen, and nurses in military healthcare. In 1899, the morgue was constructed, which now houses the Dental Clinic. The hospital became an entirely separate command in 1901. This new organizational command relocated eight years later, in 1909, with the help of horse-drawn wagons and an experimental steam-driven ambulance. They transported 11 patients from a 50-bed hospital to a new 65-bed facility in the northern part of the capital, departing from Ft. McNair.
The construction of the Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH), also known as "Building 1," began in 1907 with an appropriation of $192,000 from congressional legislation. The architectural designs were by the firm of Marah & Peter, and the construction contract was awarded to Cramp & Company. The first ten patients were admitted on May 1, 1909. Lieutenant Colonel William Cline Borden was the driving force behind the creation, planning, and securing of initial Congressional support for the Medical Center. Due to his efforts, the facility was nicknamed "Borden's Dream."
In 1923, General John J. Pershing signed a War Department order creating the ""Army Medical Center" (AMC) within the same campus as WRGH. The Army Medical School was relocated and became the "Medical Department Professional Service School" (MDPSS) in the new Building 40. Over time, the medical care facility expanded from a bed capacity of 80 patients to approximately 5,500 rooms covering more than 28 acres of floor space.
In 2011, WRAMC combined with the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, to form the tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The original WRAMC campus in Washington, D.C., served over 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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Reed's work on yellow fever
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., was named after U.S. Army physician and Major Walter Reed, who made significant contributions to the understanding and eradication of yellow fever.
Yellow fever was a major concern for Americans at the end of the 19th century, as outbreaks ravaged both the Cuban population and the American occupation force following the Spanish-American War. However, the cause of the disease and its method of transmission remained unknown. Most medical researchers at the time believed that yellow fever was caused by bacteria and spread by fomites—objects soiled with human blood and excrement.
In 1900, Army Surgeon General George Miller Sternberg appointed Major Reed to head an investigative board to study tropical diseases, particularly yellow fever. The board, officially known as the United States Army Yellow Fever Commission, became known simply as the Reed Commission. It included three other specialists in infectious disease: James Carroll, Aristides Agramonte, and Jesse W. Lazear.
During their investigations, Reed and his colleagues tested the blood of infected yellow fever patients but could find no bacterial agent. They also observed that exposure to fomites did not seem to be related to yellow fever infection. With no evidence to support the popular theories, Reed decided that a new direction was needed. Thus, they turned their attention to a theory proposed by Cuban physician Carlos Finlay, who argued that yellow fever was spread by mosquitoes.
To test Finlay's theory, the Reed Commission conducted a series of experiments at the US Army's Camp Lazear in November 1900. In one experiment, a group of volunteers received bites from mosquitoes that had previously fed on yellow fever patients. Four of these volunteers contracted yellow fever, providing evidence that the disease was transmitted by mosquitoes. The commission's findings disproved the common belief that yellow fever was spread by fomites.
As a result of the Reed Commission's work, the military governor of Cuba authorized an experimental program of inoculations. However, this effort was unsuccessful, and the only effective solution was to eradicate the mosquitoes in Havana. Under the leadership of Major William C. Gorgas, the Army implemented measures such as screening yellow fever patients, fumigating buildings, and draining or oiling potential mosquito breeding sites. These efforts led to a drastic reduction in yellow fever cases, and by 1902, there were no reported cases in Havana.
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The structure and history of the hospital
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011. The center was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who led the team that confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes.
The structure that would become the WRAMC has a long history. Since the 1890s, the site was used as an Army General Hospital where physicians, corpsmen, and nurses were trained in military healthcare. In 1899, the morgue was constructed, which now houses the Dental Clinic. In 1901, the hospital became an entirely separate command, and in 1909, it relocated to a new 65-bed facility in the northern aspect of the capital. The original facility at Fort McNair continued to function as a post hospital until 1911 when the west wing was converted into a clinic.
Congressional legislation appropriated $192,000 for the construction of WRGH, now known as "Building 1". The architectural firm of Marah & Peter designed the building, and Cramp & Company was awarded the construction contract. Construction began in 1907, and the first ten patients were admitted on May 1, 1909. Due to the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel William Cline Borden, the facility was nicknamed "Borden's Dream."
In 1923, General John J. Pershing signed the War Department order creating the "Army Medical Center" (AMC) within the same campus as the WRGH. The Army Medical School was relocated and became the "Medical Department Professional Service School" (MDPSS) in the new Building 40. Over time, the medical care at the facility expanded from a bed capacity of 80 patients to approximately 5,500 rooms covering more than 28 acres of floor space.
In 2011, WRAMC combined with the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, to form the tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). The original WRAMC campus is being redeveloped as The Parks at Walter Reed. Today, the WRNMMC continues to serve as a leading military medical center, providing care to active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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Notable patients at the hospital
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), officially known as Walter Reed General Hospital (WRGH) until 1951, was the U.S. Army's flagship medical center from 1909 to 2011. It was named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who confirmed that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. Since its establishment, the hospital has served over 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. In 2011, WRAMC combined with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to form the tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).
Over the years, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the subsequent Walter Reed National Military Medical Center have treated several notable individuals, including U.S. presidents and high-ranking military officials. Here are some notable patients:
- Franklin D. Roosevelt: The hospital was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. Roosevelt selected the site and laid the cornerstone. While the original intent was to provide medical care exclusively to military personnel, the medical team offered to assist in treating Roosevelt's paralysis of the lower extremities. This set a precedent for future presidents to use military hospitals near Washington, D.C., such as Bethesda or Walter Reed, as their primary medical facilities.
- Lyndon B. Johnson: President Lyndon B. Johnson was a patient at the medical center on multiple occasions during his presidency. On January 23, 1965, he was hospitalized for what was reported as a common cold with tracheal and bronchial irritation.
- John F. Kennedy: Following his assassination in Dallas, Texas, President John F. Kennedy's body was taken to Washington, D.C., aboard Air Force One. His autopsy was performed at the Naval Medical Center, which is now part of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
- High-Ranking Military Officials: The hospital has also treated several high-ranking military officials, including Lieutenant General George W. Weightman, Lieutenant General Kevin C. Kiley, US Army Lieutenant General Leonard D. Heaton, US Army Major General Leland Stanford Hobbs, and US Army Major General Edgar Erskine Hume.
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Frequently asked questions
The hospital is named after Walter Reed, a U.S. Army physician and Major who discovered that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes.
Walter Reed was an Army physician and Major. He also held the following positions:
- Assistant sanitary officer for the Brooklyn Board of Health
- Assistant Surgeon General with the rank of Colonel
- Surgeon General with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Walter Reed's main contribution to medicine was his discovery that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes rather than direct physical contact. This discovery helped to control and prevent the spread of the disease, especially in military encampments where it once ravaged.
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was established in 1909 and served as the U.S. Army's flagship medical center until 2011.
