PCOM has announced that John P. Kearney, vice chairman, PCOM Board of Trustees, and Jeffrey M. Branch, EdD, chair, Department of Organizational Development and Leadership, are this year’s recipients of the O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal and the Alumni Association Certificate of Honor, respectively.
Mr. Kearney and Dr. Branch will be honored at the College’s Founders’ Day ceremony on Friday, April 29, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube.
John P. KearneyJohn P. Kearney, vice-chairman of the PCOM Board of Trustees, is this year’s recipient of PCOM’s O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal. Mr. Kearney has a deep history with PCOM, serving on the Board since 2002 and as chairman from 2014-2021. Under his leadership, PCOM has grown both its geographic footprint and its academic offerings, while simultaneously keeping tuition increases to a minimum and doubling the College’s endowment. Retiring in 2014 after 38 years as president of ERICO Corp, John P. Kearney Associates Inc. and M&K Leasing Inc., Mr. Kearney continues to operate Kearney Real Estate. He has received numerous awards over the years for his dedication to the community, including the Four Chaplains Bronze Medallion, an award recognizing extraordinary contributions to the well-being of others. He is also a previous recipient of the PCOM President’s Award (2010) and the Alumni Association Certificate of Honor (2014). Learn more about Mr. Kearney.
The O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal is presented in memory of the co-founder of PCOM and is the College's highest award, which recognizes leadership and service to the osteopathic profession and to the institution.
Jeffrey M. Branch, EdDAlso receiving honors at this year’s Founders’ Day celebration is Jeffrey M. Branch, EdD, chair of the Department of Organizational Development and Leadership, who will receive the PCOM Alumni Association Certificate of Honor which recognizes distinguished services rendered and loyal devotion to PCOM. It is the highest honor bestowed by the PCOM Alumni Association. Learn more about Dr. Branch.
Founders' Day celebrates the birth of PCOM in 1899 by Drs. Snyder and Pressly, who sought to bring the osteopathic philosophy of whole-person healthcare to Philadelphia. The ceremony on January 27 will celebrate the accomplishments of the 2023 Founders' Day award recipients who embody the dedication, loyalty and service to the College that our founders, O.J. Snyder and Mason W. Pressly, exhibited.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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