The Akiko Kobayashi Bowers
Collection of Medical Artifacts

In addition to its continuing use as a functioning medical building, Davidge Hall is recognized for housing one of the finest medical museums in the country. Visitors can view a variety of portraits, busts, books and artifacts dating back to the earliest days of organized medicine in the new Republic. The collection, owned by the Alumni Association, is named in honor of Akikio Kobayashi Bowers, the widow of Dr. John Z. Bowers, class of 1938.

Born in Tokyo, Akiko Kobayashi's upbringing was East and West entwined. She graduated with honors from Kobe College, one of Japan's oldest and most prestigious universities, founded in 1873 by two American women missionaries. Encouraged by her parents to continue her education, she came to America in 1961 on a scholarship to study business administration as a graduate student at New York University. She and Dr. Bowers met on Christmas Eve 1969, each at the height of an extraordinary career. He was an internationally recognized leader in American medicine. As president of the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, he was a pioneer in the creation of opportunities for minorities in medicine. She was the first women to work with the Japanese ambassador to the United Nations, directed protocol and served as liaison between the Japanese government and the U.N. Four months later they began a 23-year marriage and collaboration that continued until his death in 1993. In addition to her role of wife-partner, Mrs. Bowers functioned as researcher, translator, collaborator and co-author, particularly on publications relating to Asian medical education and history. These efforts resulted in Dr. Bowers being acclaimed one of the foremost scholars of his time. She traveled extensively around the world, taking responsibility for coordinating the social functions of the Macy Foundation. These were the happiest and most interesting years of her life.

After the passing of her husband, Mrs. Bowers devoted herself to fostering his legacy. The effort began with the completion of a comprehensive memorial booklet. At Maryland, to preserve and enhance the school's rich heritage, she established an endowment fund to support maintenance of its collection of medical artifacts, including Dr. Bowers' decorations and citations. Dr. Bowers' Order of the Legion of Honor of France and Order of the Rising Sun of Japan are among his collection on permanent display in Davidge Hall. Her philanthropic endeavors continued with the establishment of the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean's Chair. The chair is the most prestigious and endearing honorary title associated with academic medicine. It represents a milestone in the history of the University of Maryland by being the first dean's chair. She also initiated a scholarship in his name, and did the same at Gettysburg College (class of 1933) for students persuing science as a career field. Finally, she indexed and inventoried his scholarly works which are now preserved at the Rockefeller University Archive Center in Sleppy Hollow, New York.

An accomplished harpist and classic traditional dancer, Mrs. Bowers has a passion for classical music, opera, theatre, and art. She is a patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art where she donated priceless heirlooms to enhance the understanding of Japanese culture and the history of art. She is also a supporting member of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Hobbies include financial management investment strategy, writing and calligraphy. A prolific reader, Mrs. Bowers demonstrates particular interest in history, biographies and autobiographies.

In 1999, she wrote her memoir, East and West, When the Twain Meet - A Life. The work received excellent reviews from leading news organizations in Japan where it was published. She credits her grandfather, Zensuke Tanaka, a renowned industrialist and philanthropist, with instilling in her a pioneering spirit and joy of giving. Philanthropy became her labor of love that fulfills a lifetime of desiring to serve people.

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