My First Fee

• Fees and charges
• Education, medical
• Knowledge, attitudes, practice

It was the summer of 1946, and I was in my senior year of medical school, going through my rotations on the way to becoming a doctor. The hard work had taken away some of the desire and idealism of becoming a doctor. But I had already come this far. Only a few more months to go and I would achieve my first major goal in life. I was assigned to the medical clinic in “Colored” Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. (“White” Grady was located across the street; segregation was de rigueur at the time). My job was to examine a patient and then present my findings to the attending physician and suggest a course of action. As always, …