This marker is one in the University of Florida historical marker series, dedicated on September 25, 2010 to George T. Harrell.
The marker text: George T. Harrell, founding dean of UF’ s College of Medicine in 1956, was the first individual to organize and open two academic medical centers. A pioneering planner who spent his career working in new medical schools, Harrell’s detailed plans looked at how physical designs affected patient well-being, staff behavior, student learning, and interdisciplinary research and instruction. [At UF, Harrell’s vision resulted in unique rural outreach clinics, a focus on humanities and humanism, and collaborative programs that bridged the different health sciences. Later, at Penn State , he created new and innovative departments that laid the groundwork for programs in medical humanities across the country. His primary focus was always medical education; his principal definition of a successful dean was one who put students first.