1 audiocassette (50 min.), 1 transcript (17 pages), correspondence, 1987 February 1

File — Folder: 1166

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: This interview with Dr. Edward D. Fikany (1917-2002) of Fort Sumner, New Mexico (De Baca County) provides insights into rural or smalltown practice in New Mexico during the last half of the twentieth century. A Northwestern University Medical School graduate, Dr. Fikany set up practice in Ft. Sumner (pop. 3000 and less) in 1948 and remained in continuous service there for more than 42 years. Among the subjects discussed in some detail in this interview are the economics and logistics of rural practice; the relationship between MDs and osteopathic physicians in rural New Mexico, including the question of hospital privileges for DOs; the continuing education of the rural physician; and the transformation of medicine outside the cities by such forces as the creation and development of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, the population drain from the countryside to the cities and its impact on rural practice, and the coming of Medicare. Subjects discussed at lesser length include the impact of World War II on medical education and training; Dr. William R. Lovelace I and the Lovelace Clinic; referrals and rural practice; tularemia; public health personnel and services; Dr. Stuart Adler; and dentistry in the countryside.