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Michigan State Medical Society unearths 1959 time capsule

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Former Michigan State Medical Society president Dr. James Grant (left) and incoming MSMS president Dr. David Krhovsky place a letter containing predictions about the future of medicine into a time capsule. It will be opened in 2065.
Kevin Lavery

When the Michigan State Medical Society moved into its gleaming new mid-century modern headquarters back in 1959, its members buried a letter in a time capsule. In it, doctors predicted what medicine would be like in the 21st century. Yesterday, that capsule was opened.

When the Michigan State Medical Society moved into its East Lansing headquarters back in 1959, a letter was buried in the cornerstone. It was written by Dr. Gordon H. Scott, who was then the dean of the Wayne State University Medical School. Yesterday, in honor of the society’s 150th anniversary, that letter was opened.

Current State was there to hear past society president Dr. James Grant read aloud a prediction for medicine in the 21st century.

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Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.