An Important Health Update from Dr. Feldstein

August 31, 2026

Dear PCOM Alumni and Friends,

I am writing to share a personal health update with you. Over the past several months, I have been receiving treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia and have reached the next planned phase of my care. This will result in an extended medical leave so that I can focus fully on my treatment and recovery. I am grateful that my initial treatment resulted in remission, an encouraging first step, even as additional treatment remains essential. This next phase, a bone marrow transplant, provides the highest chance for long-term remission.

Beginning September 1, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ken Veit will serve as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, as approved by the Board of Trustees. He will provide steady leadership for the College alongside my Cabinet and the Executive Leadership Team, with continued guidance and oversight from the Board. I have full confidence in this exceptional team and know they will continue advancing PCOM’s mission during my leave.

I never imagined finding myself on this side of a diagnosis. As an emergency medicine physician, I spent years caring for patients whose lives changed in an instant. Those experiences taught me that life’s greatest challenges often arrive without warning. Now, I find myself walking a path that so many patients and families know all too well.

As a physician and president of the medical school from which I graduated, I also believe there is value in sharing my experience. My hope is that doing so will encourage others facing similar challenges and support advances in research and treatment. At the same time, I respectfully ask for your understanding as my family and I maintain the privacy we need during this next phase of my care.

I am deeply grateful for the many members of the PCOM community who have supported me throughout this journey. Your kindness and encouragement have meant a great deal to my family and me.

Serving as president of PCOM gives me profound joy. I have every motivation to focus on my recovery and return to the work I love as soon as I am able.

Jay S. Feldstein, DO ’81
President and Chief Executive Officer