Remembering Jake: the president who built the hospital
Drs. Cookie and Jake Jacobsen meet with NY Governor Nelson Rockefeller
and his wife, Happy, at the newly opened Upstate University Hospital, 1965.
Carlyle “Jake” F. Jacobsen PhD, was president of Upstate Medical University from 1957 to 1965 and dean of its College of Medicine. He came to Upstate from an administrative post in health education at SUNY, through which he built a network of influential people in American medicine. He oversaw a period of tremendous growth at Upstate that included construction of University Hospital and the creation of several clinical departments in the College of Medicine.
Both Jacobsens published extensively. Jake Jacobsen was the author of numerous publications, including several books on cerebral function. Due to their joint expertise in neurophysiology, psychiatry and medicine, the Jacobsens represented the United States Agency for International Development on assignments in Lebanon, Iran, and India.
Among their many accomplishments, the Jacobsens were instrumental in Upstate‘s recognition of Elizabeth Blackwell MD, a graduate of Geneva Medical College (now Upstate Medical University) and the first woman physician educated in America.
The Jacobsen dedication is being held at 3 p.m. on Wed., Nov 12 in Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Avenue, Syracuse. It is open to the Upstate community and friends.
The medical alumni association offers opportunities to honor the Jacobsens through the Carlyle and Ellen Cook Jacobsen Memorial Fund and the Ellen Cook Jacobsen MD ‘50 Fellowship in Psychiatry.
The Jacobsen Foyer in Weiskotten hall will be dedicated at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12.
