The profound developments of the past thirty years in biological research, both basic and clinical, in medical education, and in health care delivery patterns have affected deeply the physical features and the operational procedures of the University Hospital. Throughout virtually the entire thirty-year period the Hospital's administration was the responsibility of Dr. Albert Kerlikowske, who retired on June 30, 1969. He was succeeded by Edward Connors. Upon the retirement of Dr. Harley Haynes, the director who preceded Dr. Kerlikowske, the University administration created a Hospital Board-in-Control to which the Hospital director was immediately responsible. This Board originally consisted of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, the Vice-President for Finance, the Dean of the Medical School, and the Director of the University Hospital. Subsequently, one member of the professional medical staff of the Hospital served on that Board. In 1969, when Connors came to the University, another major administrative change occurred. A new position had been created known as the Dean-Directorship of the Medical School and Medical Center. Dr. William Hubbard became the first incumbent. Under this new arrangement the Board-in-Control was modified considerably to include broader representation of the medical staff and non-University members representing the public at large. The new plan was developed in order to unify the direction of all activities within the Medical Center, which included the Medical School and the Hospital. The Hospital professional staff was given a larger role in the administrative affairs of the Hospital, under the leadership of a chief-of-staff.
The Main Hospital, under construction for six years, was finally occupied in August of 1925. By the mid-40s, having undergone many internal modifications to meet rapidly changing needs, the Hospital had begun to show signs of increasing obsolescence. It was finding itself unable to cope with modern patient service demands and medical advances quite different than those it was designed to meet originally. In 1953 Dr. Kerlikowske, after lengthy diplomatic contacts with members of the legislature and with the Regents, succeeded in obtaining legislative approval for an ongoing program of modernization to be approved and supported on a yearly basis.
In addition, a combination of federal funds, private philanthropy, and funding from University Hospital operations was necessary to meet capital building and