This Society was established as a meeting ground for those interested in clinical investigation in its broadest aspects. If it has a fundamental objective, it is the creation and preservation of a" Heritage of Excellence" in research. The term" heritage of excellence" was coined by Alan Gregg as a penetrating expression of the abiding influence of Dr. Welch and his associates on the spirit of creative scholarship at the Johns Hopkins Medi-cal Institutions.

It is important for University clinics to provide and to preserve opportunity for thetraining of the individual in clinical research, to promote creative scholarship. What does this entail? As Dr. Gregg has expressed it:" Men of superior character and capacity should have freedom, responsibility and expectation." There are many men on the threshold in medicine to-day who have the right qualities of character and ability in abundance. It is the responsibility of University Centers to maintain in full measure the opportunity for their development as investigators and teachers. Arnott has said:" It should be a basic article of faith that critical scholarship and search for new knowledge is the primary aim of the University. Not merely actual dis-covery, not merely even the attemptto discover, but the creation and cultivation of the spirit of discovery." This spirit should permeate the Medical Center. Granted that the combination of circumstances is such that only a few will achieve outstanding discoveries, everyone of us can promote such discoveriesby facilitating fruitful associations with the so-called" pure scientist" and by criticism and discussion foster the spirit ofinquiry. As was pointed out from this rostrum not long ago, medical progress is in the logarithmic phase of growth. What has been the effect of this upon the ability of Uni-versity Medical Centers to provide freedom, responsibility and expectation and to maintain an environment really conducive to creative scholarship on the part of young physicians?