On the occasion of the 10th Ralph H. and Ruth F. Gross Biennial Lecture, an event held to honor the man whose legendary thirst for knowledge made him a regular at the Louis Calder Memorial Library, the medical library's committee wanted a speaker with a similar yen for learning. The committee chose Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., who used the opportunity to present a panoramic view of the development of medical knowledge and how UHealth - the University of Miami Health System - is incorporating critical advances to help access knowledge that will lead to better patient care.

Exploring related topics such as cognitive and autonomic brain functions and the development and importance of evidence-based medicine, Dean Goldschmidt used much of his December 10 lecture, "Medical Knowledge in the IT Era," to discuss UChart, UHealth's state-of-the-art Epic electronic medical records system. The system, which will be installed starting next year, will revolutionize the storage and coordination of patient and other medical data.

"It is impossible to keep health care at a very high level in the United States and the world without having a very strong IT skeleton," said Dean Goldschmidt, also the CEO of UHealth, and an advocate of consistent modernization of medical records and medical library research systems.

"What UChart and other advances in medical IT indicate is our understanding that we need to make sure the information we have on patients is safe and accessible, that patients can carry the information with them when they seek care in other institutions, and that we have access to similar information when patients are moved from other institutions to ours," the Dean added.

Dean Goldschmidt stressed that advanced medical records systems are also important for the "optimization of entry of orders on patients," such as those dealing with prescriptions. Overall, he said, "it truly is a way to ensure that the quality of medicine is at the high level that physicians, nurses and our patients deserve."

Dr. Goldschmidt, who punctuated his lecture with humor, spoke to an audience gathered in the lobby of the Calder Library. In addition to members of the UM Board of Trustees and many faculty and staff, special guests included Henry L. Lemkau, Jr., M.L.S., J.D., retired professor and chair of the library and the seventh presenter of the Gross Lecture, and Carol Clarkson and Patricia Bergman, the daughters of the benefactors, the late Ralph and Ruth Gross.

"It was a very enjoyable lecture on an important subject. My father would have liked it," said Mrs. Clarkson, of Fort Lauderdale, adding that her family made the decision to enable the purchase of library books and journals, because "it was a place where he spent much of his time."

The Gross Lecture was established in 1990 by the Calder Library to commemorate the Ralph H. and Ruth F. Gross Medical Library Endowment. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the gift.

The lecture has been delivered every two years since 1991 by individuals of exceptional accomplishment on the topic of their choice. The first Gross lecturer was Emanuel M. Papper, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School from 1969 to 1981, who spoke on January 10, 1991, in the library's History of Medicine Room. Successive lectures have been presented by UM President Emeritus Henry King Stanford, Ph.D., and former Miller School Deans Bernard J. Fogel, M.D., and John G. Clarkson, M.D., among others.

Mary Moore, Ph.D., the current professor and chair of the medical library and biomedical communications, delivered the last lecture in 2007. This year she served as master of ceremonies and told the audience she was thrilled to be at a gathering celebrating libraries and the pursuit of knowledge. She reminded her listeners how Ralph Gross became associated with the library.

The Grosses moved to South Florida after World War II and started a poultry farm on what is now Broward Boulevard. The business had an inauspicious start: Of the first 100 chicks born, 92 died.

But instead of focusing on the chicks that died, Ralph Gross concentrated on the survivors, concluding their feed made a difference. Determined to learn more, Mr. Gross frequently visited the library, spending hours reading literature on nutrition and health, making photocopies, requesting material from other libraries and consulting with faculty.

"He turned adversity into prosperity," Moore remarked. "We have come together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the gift and we are extremely grateful to Mrs. Gross and her daughters for their generosity."

A reception followed the Dean's lecture. "Our father would be proud of the accomplishments of the library he knew so well," Patricia Bergman said. "How different it is from 50 years ago when he was right here doing research. This is a proud moment for all of us."