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Founders' Day 2012
PCOM celebrated the founding of the College with it's annual Founders' Day celebration on January 27. On this day the school presented its two highest award, the O.J. Snyder Memorial Award, which is presented to a member of the PCOM alumni and the Mason W. Pressley Memorial Award, which is presented to a PCOM student.
Kenneth J. Veit, DO '76, MBA, FACOFP, Provost, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean
O.J. Snyder Memorial Award
Dr. Veit began his career in medicine as a country doctor making a difference in the lives of people one patient at a time. Today, in his current position at PCOM, he makes a difference not only as a physician but as a leader and teacher as well.
After graduating from PCOM and completing his internship in family medicine at the United States Public Health Service Hospital in Staten Island, NY, Dr. Veit became medical director of the Southern Huntington County Medical Center in central Pennsylvania. In addition to treating patients, he won approval for the medical center to become a rural medicine training site for PCOM and discovered his love of teaching.
After serving for two years as the National Health Service Corp’s regional medical coordinator for rural communities in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia, Dr. Veit returned to PCOM as a physician in the department of family medicine. His commitment to the College’s Healthcare Centers ultimately put him on the path to administrative roles of ever increasing responsibility. In 1984 he was appointed director of the Healthcare Centers and chair of the division of community medicine. Five years later he was appointed director of medical education and in 1990 he became assistant dean, graduate medical education.
Two years later, he was named dean of the College, a post he has held for 20 years, bringing a long period of stability and growth to PCOM. Today, Dr. Veit continues to see patients and teach as he leads PCOM into the future of healthcare education.
Robert Timothy Bryan (DO ’12)
Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal
Mr. Bryan always had two goals: to serve his country and to pursue a career in medicine. He aimed for both by enlisting in the U.S. Navy for eight years as a hospital corpsman and special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman, providing medical support to Special Operations units. As a field medic, he often went behind enemy lines in Iraq to care for wounded U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians. These experiences strengthened his resolve to pursue a career as an emergency physician.
After leaving the Navy in 2006, Mr. Bryan founded Ethos Solutions LLC, which provides austere medical training and development to military and law enforcement officers. Soon after, he entered PCOM.
As president of the PCOM Student Government Association, Mr. Bryan helped to rewrite the constitution and bylaws to reflect PCOM’s expansion into new academic programs. He also involved all PCOM students in community outreach by helping to establish an annual PCOM Outreach Day. At the national level, Mr. Bryan worked with the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents to develop and implement a plan to improve COMLEX Performance Evaluation feedback and to ensure more consistent student scoring.
A staunch advocate for osteopathic medicine, Mr. Bryan’s goals for the future include serving the community as an emergency physician and EMS director while continuing to offer austere medical training through his company.
Pittsburgh Reception Brings Together East and West
A continuum of individuals responsible for providing some of the best medical care available in western Pennsylvania were at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association on Thursday night, October 6, when Dr. Bernard Bernacki and his wife, Mary, hosted a reception for PCOM. Among the approximately 150 attendees were the College’s leadership, administrators from UPMC and Heritage Valley Health System, area physicians, prospective medical students and their parents, and college pre-med advisors.
“Our goal,” says Dr. Bernacki, PCOM trustee, “is to recruit talent, develop talent and retain talent in western Pennsylvania. We do this by building relationships with Pittsburgh area colleges, physicians and medical centers. By creating collaborations with local health systems and area physicians, PCOM medical students can spend their first two years at PCOM and then complete most or all of their third- and fourth-year clinical clerkships in western Pennsylvania. This positions them to successfully compete for residencies in the area. It’s win-win. We keep great DOs in the region and physicians stay close to their hometown roots.”
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Dr. Schure, president and CEO, PCOM, discusses the opportunities available to PCOM students
in western Pennsylvania. |
Reception chair, Bernard Bernacki, DO '81 (left),
and Edward E. James, DO '58, a member of the host
committee, were on hand at the reception to talk with students, prospective students, alumni, academic advisors and medical administrators about PCOM. |
White Coat Ceremony Marks New Beginnings
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The 268 students of PCOM's DO class of 2015 took their first step toward becoming physicians during PCOM’s White Coat Ceremony. A significant rite of passage, the ceremony is designed to establish a psychological contract for beginning medical students that stresses the importance of compassionate care for the patient and professionalism as well as scientific proficiency. To see television coverage of this event, click here. |
Dr. George McCloskey on How to Talk to Your Children About 9/11
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George McCloskey, PhD, professor and director, school psychology research, was tapped as an expert by WPVI-TV to discuss how to talk to your children about 9/11. To view what he has to say, click here. |
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Dr. Yuma Tomes Discusses Bullyin
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| Associate professor Yuma Tomes, PhD was the featured expert on 6ABC. He discussed school bullying and participated in a Web chat, answering viewer questions. To see what Dr. Tomes has to say, click here. |
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2011 Commencement
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253 students from PCOM's nine graduate programs received their degrees on Friday, July 29 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Former State Representative Kathy Manderino, Esq. presented the keynote address encouraging students to balance their priorities and live a life of meaning. Click here to see the television coverage of the event. |
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PCOM Graduated 260 doctors of osteopathic medicine on June 5 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. GA-PCOM graduated 87 doctors
of osteopathic medicine and awarded 19 masters of biomedical sciences degrees on May 21. To see a portion of the PCOM commencement as it was shown on WPVI-TV, click here. |
PCOM's Emergency Medicine Club Gives Senior Citizens Peace of Mind
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 PCOM’s Emergency Medicine Club purchased
21 emergency medical alert necklaces to distribute to senior citizens in need in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
This outreach was initiated after Club President Rick Pescatore heard the story of an elderly woman in New Jersey who had fallen in her home and wasn’t found for three days. "I don’t want this to happen to anyone else,"
declares Rick. Once a senior citizen is identified, a member of the Emergency Medicine Club will go his or
her home to set up the alert system, which will automatically call 911, at no cost to the resident.
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PCOM Student Makes Heroic Rescue Attempt
Brandon Eck, a third-year DO student, was riding his bike along the Schuylkill River when a car plunged into the water. Brandon dropped his bike and made a valiant rescue attempt. Read about his brave actions as published in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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| PCOM President Matthew Schure, PhD, thanks Brandon Eck for his selfless actions. |
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PCOM Medical Student Named Schweitzer Fellow
Second year PCOM medical student Jillian Heck and Jefferson University physical therapy student Melissa Warriner, both Schweitzer fellows, were interviewed on the NBC-10 show "Be Well, Stay Well" about their year-long community project educating teens about HIV-AIDS at the after school program at North Lights Community Center. To view clip, click here. |
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PCOM Celebrated National Osteopathic Medicine Week with the help
of the Philadelphia Electric Company. To view, click on the image above. |
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PCOM has created the Primary Care Scholars Program (PCSP) to sustain the commitment of PCOM medical students to careers in primary care, with a specific focus on the needs of underserved communities, both urban and rural, in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the program will be implemented during the four years of the medical study program.
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Founders' Day 2011
PCOM celebrated the founding of the College with its annual Founders' Day celebration on January 28. Robert S. Maurer, DO '62, was awarded the the O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal and John Clark (DO '11) was the recipient of the Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal.
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PCOM's 2011 O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal Recipient Robert S. Maurer, DO '62 has been an advocate for changes to the healthcare system for over 35 years. He was a driving force in developing and passing medical malpractice and other liability reform legislation in New Jersey, serving on former Governor Tom Kean's task force and other health advisory committees. At the same time, he was advocating for osteopathic medicine, taking every opportunity to advance the profession as president of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Maurer also takes great pride in teaching students, interns and residents the principles of osteopathic medicine, serving on the faculty of UMDNJ-SOM for 32 years.
Dr. Maurer joined the Alumni Association of PCOM Board of Directors as its youngest member in 1970 and is the third longest serving member of the alumni board. Currently, Dr. Maurer is completing his sixth year as alumni representative to the PCOM Board of Trustees. |
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PCOM's Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal Recipient John M. Clark (DO '11) has truly found his niche in medicine. A former information technology specialist, he finds joy in the challenge of putting the pieces of the puzzle together to help patients. "I enjoy the challenge of starting with an unclear clinical picture, then carefully gathering and assembling the pieces of the patient's puzzle in the form of history and physical, labs and studies to determine the true diagnosis," he says.
Throughout his years at PCOM, Mr. Clark has been involved in the Student Government Association as part of its executive board and Parliamentarian. He was elected as a senator for the D.O. Council where he oversees the Technology and Political Action committees and serves as a member of the Rotations Committee. |
PCOM Trustee Discusses Peanut Allergy Initiative on Television
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PCOM Trustee Lita Indzel Cohen, Esq., created the Food Allergy Research Initiative (FARI) at PCOM.
Under the auspices of the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, C. Scott Little, PhD, assistant professor, pathology, microbiology and immunology, is tackling what has become a dreadful epidemic for so many children.
The goal of his research is to identify and target key cells of the immune system and use immune modulation to alter the response of the cell. To view Ms. Cohen's interview with Renee Chenault-Fattah, click here. To learn more about FARI and how you can help, click here. |
School of Pharmacy Off and Running
A ribbon cutting on November 12 commemorated the opening the PCOM School of Pharmacy, which welcomed the inaugural class of 79 students in August. Responding to the rising need for pharmacists nationally, and in particular in the South, the four-year program has received precandidate accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
"No stone will be left unturned to provide our pharmacy students with a first-rate experience and equip them with the education and understanding they need to take leadership roles in an ever-changing healthcare environment," pronounced Mark Okamoto, PharmD, professor, dean and chief academic officer, PCOM School of Pharmacy. "We are grateful for the foresight of the PCOM Trustees and senior administration and the support we have received from pharmacy leaders and practitioners across the state."
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Celebrating the School of Pharmacy ribbon cutting
are, from left, John Fleischmann, EdD, executive
officer, GA-PCOM; Matthew Schure, PhD, president
and chief executive officer, PCOM; Kenneth J. Veit,
MBA, DO ’79, provost, senior vice president for
academic affairs and dean, PCOM; Mark Okamoto, PharmD, professor, dean and chief academic officer,
PCOM School of Pharmacy and John P. Kearney,
PCOM trustee. |
Health Fair Helps Community
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PCOM Healthcare Center -- Lancaster Avenue Division hosted a community health fair on September 17. PCOM medical students offered blood pressure screenings and blood sugar checks. Community organizations were on hand to provide information on topics ranging from elder care services to opening your own day care center. Mercy Keystone offered blood tests, pap smears and mammograms. Entertainment, healthy snacks and giveaways made the day complete. To see television coverage of the event, click here. |
PCOM Psychology Programs Announce Good News
PCOM’s PsyD program in school psychology has achieved the distinction of being listed as a Designated Program by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) until 2012. This designation is a public declaration that the program meets the national standards of ASPPB, which in turn greatly facilitates the licensure process for our graduates to become licensed psychologists.
The College’s PsyD in clinical psychology program received a seven-year accreditation from the American Psychological Association, the maximum number of years possible. APA accreditation reflects the highest standard a program can achieve at the doctoral level.
PCOM President, Matthew Schure, PhD., states that he is “delighted by the APA and ASPPB decisions, both of which reflect high levels of student achievement. We extend heartfelt congratulations to all the members of the PCOM community who worked so hard to achieve these outstanding outcomes.”
Graduate Programs Commencement
230 students from nine graduate programs earned their degrees at PCOM's Graduate Programs Commencement on Saturday, July 31. The commencement address was given by Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, director, department of behavioral health and mental retardation services for the city of Philadelphia. Students received doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and school psychology, master's degrees in school psychology, counseling and clinical health psychology, organizational development and leadership, forensic medicine, biomedical sciences and physician assistant studies. Students also earned their educational specialist degree in school psychology. To view tv coverage of the commencement, click here.
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| Valerie Moore celebrates her master's degree in biomedical sciences. |
Julia Rovinsky is hooded by Dr. Felgoise after earning her doctoral degree in clinical psychology. |
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Arthur C. Evans, Jr, PhD, motivated the new graduates during his address. |
PCOM School of Pharmacy Gets Green Light
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After two years of planning, PCOM School of Pharmacy
will begin classes August 16. Read about it in the
Gwinnett Daily Post. |
PCOM DO Commencement Makes News
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Local news anchor Jim Gardner, WPVI-TV, presented
the keynote address at PCOM's 119th DO commencement
on June 5 when the College graduated 255 doctors of
osteopathic medicine. To view the news clip, click here. |
Reception to Fight Peanut Allergy
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At the FARI reception are Lita I. Cohen, Esq., FARI founder (center),
Susan Taichman-Robins, Esq., founder, Anaphylaxis Resource Initiative
(left) and the Honorable Constance Williams. |
The newly-created Food Allergy Research Initiative (FARI)
held a reception for donors at PCOM. FARI was established
by former PA State Representative and PCOM Trustee
Lita I. Cohen (above center) in response to her grandson's
peanut allergy. The research is being spearheaded by C. Scott
Little, PhD, assistant professor, pathology, microbiology and
immunology under the auspices of PCOM's Center for Chronic
Disorders of Aging. To see television coverage of the event, click here. |
Dr. Tomes Discusses Bullying
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Yuma Tomes, PhD, director of the MS in School Psychology
Program, discussed school bullying with Rick Williams of
WPVI-TV. See what he has to say here.
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Reception Reaches Out to Northeast PA
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PCOM Trustee John P. Kearney of Moosic, PA, and his
wife, Lois, hosted their third annual reception at the
Glenmaura National Golf Club. Loyal supporters of PCOM,
the Kearney's goal is to help medical students make their
dreams come true. Read about in the Scranton Times Tribune.
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Three Years to a Medical Degree?
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PCOM Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Dean, Kenneth J. Veit, DO, MBA, discusses the pros
and cons of a three year medical degree in a live interview
with anchorwoman Lori Wilson on NBC10. To view the
interview, clip here. | Dr. Laboy's Salsa Class is Featured on FYI Philly
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Francisco Laboy, DO '07 explains how salsa dancing helped
him deal with the stress of internship. Now he teaches the
dance to PCOM students, faculty and staff. His story was
featured on Channel Six's "FYI Philly." To view, click here
(segment two at 4:40) |
PCOM DO Student Shares Life and Death Story
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When second-year medical student Ricky Davis, Jr. collapsed at a local gym, he was lucky to be surrounded by gym-going medical professionals. Hear the story of his miraculous recovery. Click here. | |
Dr. Gosch on Childhood Anxiety
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Elizabeth Gosch, PhD, associate professor and director, MS in Counseling and Clinical Health Psychology, discussed childhood anxiety on the NBC 10! Show. Dr. Gosch is a nationally recognized expert on clinical childhood psychology and anxiety disorders. To view video, Click here. For more about Dr. Gosch. |
Students Return from Ecuador
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See and hear what life was like for the first-year DO students who spent a month in Ecuador working with Physicians for Humanity, a clinic established by Nicholas Bower, DO '05. Click here. |
PCOM Day of Service
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More than 170 students spent Saturday, Oct. 10 beautifying two local underserved elementary schools. The students cleaned, painted, landscaped and tended to maintenance issues that had been neglected for years. Students erected a free-standing basketball net for one school without a gymnasium and donated basketballs and kick balls.
The SGA garnered support from students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Physician Assistant Studies, Biomedical Sciences and Psychology Programs. Twenty-six of the volunteers included the entire 2010 class in the Master's in School Psychology. The students received generous donations from local businesses for supplies needed to carry out the projects.
This was the first of what the SGA hopes will be a continued legacy of service. |
Christine Mount, PA-C, on the 10Show!
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Christine Mount, PA-C, assistant professor, physician
assistant studies, talked with NBC's Lori Wilson about
Lyme disease. To view the segment, click here. For
more about Christine Mount. |
DO Commencement 2009
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270 doctor of osteopathic medicine students became
physicians on May 31, 2009 at The Academy of Music.
Civil rights and osteopathic medicine pioneer William G.
Anderson, DO delivered the commencement address. NBC10
was there. To see coverage of the commencement, click here. |
PCOM Wakes Up Philly
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The PCOM Activities Group and friends roused Philly from its
slumber on May 18. Click here for your wake up call. |
Dr. Bright Live Interview on Channel 10
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Rani Bright, MBBS, HCLD, assistant professor, pathology, microbiology, immunology and forensic medicine, participated in a live interview with University of Pennsylvania bioethicist Art Caplan on NBC 10. They discussed whether the A(H1N1 influenza was more media hype than threat. To view the spot, click here. For more about Dr. Bright. |
Dr. Morris Discusses Virus Transmittal
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With concerns about influenza
A(H1N1) intensifying, Harry Morris, DO, MPH, director, family medicine, discussed the mechanism by which
a virus is spread through a sneeze. To view the story, click here. For more about Dr. Morris. |
Laparoscopic Simulator in the News
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PCOM's laparoscopic simulator was the focus of a story that aired on the Philadelphia ABC-affiliate, WPVI, on April 17th and 19th. Two first-year OB/GYN residents were shown practicing their skills with Saul Jeck, DO, professor and chair, OB/GYN and Brian Rudd, simulation specialist. The story highlighted the importance of simulator training in getting physicians ready for the operating room. To view the segment, click here. |
Forensic Medicine Program Highlighted
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PCOM's forensic medicine program was featured on the "10Show!," a Philadelphia NBC-affiliate program. The segment followed a crime scene investigation class, an important part of the hands-on learning process. Two individuals were made to look like victims, and clues were placed throughout the room. Students then tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
PCOM offers three options for those who wish to pursue a career in forensic medicine: a master's degree, and certificate in advanced graduate studies and a pathways program. To view the the segment, click here. For more about PCOM's Forensic Medicine Program. |
DO Students Prepare for Trip to Ecuador
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Seven PCOM DO students preparing for an elective rotation in Ecuador were featured on the Brotherly Love segment of the local CBS evening news. Anchorman Dave Huddleston spoke with trip organizer Mary Rose O'Connor (DO '09). The group was shown organizing donations of medical supplies that they will bring with them as they visit clinics, hospitals and schools during their four weeks in the Andes. To view the segment, click here. | Walk the Talk
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PCOM's student organization Physicians for Social Responsibility sponsored "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes," an international men's march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. The walk asks men to literally walk a mile in women's high-heeled shoes. In addition to raising awareness, the Walk raised funds to benefit Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter in Norristown, PA.
The event garnered much media attention. The story was covered by three television stations and aired five times in two days. The Daily News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW radio also covered the event. To view one television story, click here. |
Alzheimer's Research Highlighted
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PCOM's Alzheimer's research was highlighted in a spot on NBC 10's program The 10! Show. The story also focused on the collaboration between the College's research faculty and students.
Click here to view. |
Learning by Doing
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The patient is wheeled into the emergency room and first- and second-year medical students rush to save her life. They work under the watchful eye of their professor, but the patient doesn't make it. Luckily, this is a simulation. It's one of the many simulated medical situations that help turn students into doctors. From human patient simulators to laparoscopic and endoscopic trainers, PCOM medical students get hands-on training on some of the most sophisticated medical training tools available. PCOM's Clinical Learning and Assessment Center was featured on NBC's 10!Show. To view, click here. | | Psychology and Healthcare Centers Collaborate
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PCOM clinical psychology students provide counseling to patients at the College's Philadelphia Healthcare Centers. The program helps patients cope with both physical and emotional difficulties. This very successful partnership was featured on NBC's 10!Show (aired 6/4). To view, click here. |
Clinical Psychology
After Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, associate professor, vice-chair and director of PCOM's clinical PsyD program learned her daughter was born with the cardiac condition Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) she also learned there was no information on how this condition affects the children born with the condition and their caregivers. Dr. Felgoise is now the lead investigator studying the psychosocial impact of LQTS. Her research, which involves nine psychology students and two PCOM DO students, was featured on NBC's 10!Show (aired 2/27/08). To view, click here. PCOM's Clinical Psychology Program.
 School Psychology
The PCOM school psychology program has partnered with the Russell Byers Charter School in Philadelphia. This innovative collaboration provides important services to the school and valuable training opportunities for PCOM school psychology students. This partnership was featured on NBC's 10!Show (aired 11/07/07). To view, click here. PCOM's School Psychology Programs
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