Portrait of Timothy Field Allen, M.D., A.M., LL.D.
Timothy Field Allen is a notable medical practitioner whose extensive history within New York Medical College includes the many positions he held as a faculty member. He practiced and supported the integration of homeopathy within the medical system.
A portrait of Dr. Allen is on display in the Willner Family Atrium, in the Medical Education Center.
Birth: April 24, 1837, Westminster, Vermont
Death: December 6, 1902, New York, New York
Education:
At New York Medical College (Faculty):
At New York Medical College (Board of Trustees):
Timothy Field Allen, M.D., A.M., LL.D, had an extensive and varied career in medicine, and most of that career involved working with the New York Medical College.
Born on April 24th, 1837, Dr. Allen earned an impressive educational background. He received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in 1858. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Amherst in 1861 while also earning an M.D. from the University of the State of New York in the same year. He later attended Hahnemann Medical College, earning an M.D. in homeopathy in 1865. He received an honorary degree from Amherst College, his LL.D., in 1885.
Shortly after receiving his M.D., Dr. Allen joined the army as an Assistant Surgeon. He served in this role until 1863. He began his career with the New York Medical College two years after concluding his study of Homeopathy in 1865. His first role in the school, beginning in 1867, was as a Chair for Chemistry in the New York Medical College for Women. Dr. Allen became a professor of General and Microscopic Anatomy in 1867. His tenure as Dean at the New York Medical College began in 1882 and continued until 1893. Some of his time as Dean overlaps with his membership of the college’s board of trustees, beginning in 1885. He went on to become the president of the board of trustees from 1899 to 1902.
During his career with the New York Medical College, Dr. Allen also had a prominent role in the New York Ophthalmic Hospital and assisted with the founding of the Laura Franklin Free Hospital for Children. Some credit him with introducing homeopathic practices in the New York Ophthalmic Hospital. He wrote several medical papers and books while working for the New York Medical College, including his “Encyclopedia of pure Materia Medica1.”
Outside of his prominent medical career, Dr. Allen held the position of Vice President for the Torry Botanical Club for several years. He wrote many botanical papers during his membership, and several species of plants were named after him.
Before Dr. Timothy Field Allen’s son graduated from the New York Medical College. After receiving an M.D. in 1889, Dr. Paul Allen went on to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a long-time faculty member in his own right.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
The New York Medical College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. See full non-discrimination statement with contact info.