Foundation of the Society
The Chapman Society is a Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. It is sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a public foundation dedicated to fostering humanism in medicine.
Student members selected by the committee and faculty members selected by the Dean in 2002-2003 became the founding members of the Society, and were notified during the Spring 2003 semester. The Society had its first formal meeting at a reception held on April 2, 2003, at which time the founding members were inducted into the Society.
Our chapter is named after Dr. Jules B. Chapman.
Dr. Chapman was born and raised in Florida. He completed his
undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, where he
participated as a member of the UF Marching Band. Upon
graduation in 1932, Dr. Chapman initially pursued graduate
training at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. He
then matriculated at the University of Tennessee School of
Medicine and received his M.D. degree in 1939.
Dr. Chapman completed his internship at Jackson Memorial
Hospital in Miami. During that exciting year, he married Annie
Lou Boozer. After his internship, Dr. Chapman served five years
as a regimental surgeon in the European theatre. After War II,
Dr. Chapman continued residency training at the Episcopal Eye,
Ear & Throat Hospital in Washington, D.C. He subsequently
returned to Florida and began private practice in Ophthalmology
in West Palm Beach.
Dr. Chapman was recalled to active duty at the onset of the
Korean War in 1950 and became a flight surgeon. He held many key
leadership positions in the military, including a three-year
tour of duty in French Morocco as a hospital commander. Dr.
Chapman retired from active duty in 1965 with the rank of
Colonel.
After his retirement from military service, Dr. and Mrs. Chapman
moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, where he became an active
participant in community affairs. He was a prominent member of
the Royal Palm Yacht Club and the Ft. Myers Power Squadron, and
taught advanced piloting for many years. He was also a loyal and
devout member of the Unitarian Universalist Church.
In his personal and professional life, Dr. Jules B. Chapman
demonstrated remarkable compassion and humanism. Throughout his
life he remained a most humble and caring person. In recognition
of his exemplary professional service, the University of Florida
College of Medicine Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society
is named in his honor.
