A Moment in Time 
Celebrating 125 Years of History

January 22, 2024

A lot can happen in 125 years.

A college can be founded in Philadelphia and then expanded to Georgia. Healthcare centers can be opened to better treat underserved populations. Students can graduate and begin their dream careers.

One hundred twenty-five years can hold millions of moments and memories. In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has captured elements from those years and moments on the 125th Moment Wall. This static display has been installed on all three campus locations and will remain throughout the year as a visual representation of PCOM’s storied history.

“We wanted students to see the history that they were a part of,” said Abigail Harmon, senior graphic designer at PCOM.

“We want them to know they are one piece in a bigger story, and there are 125 years of medical education behind them.”

The idea for the oversized collage of PCOM’s history started with an issue of Digest, the College’s alumni magazine. A walk through the archives with Mitzi Sorrells, cataloger & special collections librarian, revealed the richness of PCOM’s history.

“Since the school’s founding in 1899 by Mason W. Pressly and Oscar John Snyder, PCOM has continued to grow and prosper over the years,” shared Sorrells.

“It has gone through several name changes, many moves and expansions. From the initial graduating ‘class’ consisting of one man and one woman, PCOM has now matriculated tens of thousands of students.”

Additional standout moments were added to the collage to create a unique celebration of how far PCOM has come over the last 125 years.

“The process of selecting items to help tell the story of PCOM’s vibrant history was a lot of fun,” said Sorrells. “We tried to include a variety of objects from decades of daily life: academic publications, programs, drawings, pins, photographs and other ephemera.”

In total, 64 items are showcased on the wall for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy on all three campuses. Moments in time that make up PCOM’s identity.

“The items are part of decades of education. I’m drawn to each one because there’s a real person or story behind it,” said Harmon.

“While the study of medicine has been around for a long time, to see it through a different lens is special.”

Moment Wall Key Photo

Below is a key of the 125th Moment Wall. The PCOM community is invited to take photos and view the individual elements of the photo collage on each campus location. Share your photos on social media using the hashtag #PCOM125.

1. Clinic sign from booth doctors era
2. Portrait of Angus Cathie, DO, anatomy professor
3. Biomedical Sciences brand image from early 2000s
4. Rugby championship medal, 1987
5. Portrait of mace and baton holders, Ernest Leuzinger, DO’24, and Paul Lloyd, DO ‘23
6. Commemorative token shovel from PCOM South Georgia groundbreaking
7. Synapsis Yearbook, 1989
8. Old EKG machine from archives
9. Blood pressure cuff from archives
10. PCIO Dispensary
11. Anatomy textbook cover
12. Lawn Fete ticket, 1907
13. Sim Center at PCOM Georgia, 2010
14. Rugby shot from team, 1998
15. PCOM D.O. Care pin, 1980s
16. Schematic drawing of PCOM Georgia, 2005
17. Wishbone pin - 1960s - student wives
18. Construction of hospital, 1960s
19. Student in PCOM Georgia Sim Center
20. 48th and Spruce campus shot, 1932
21. PCOM City Avenue all together pin
22. Anatomy bone box, circa 1944
23. Finkelstein radiology goggles
24. Faculty hand drawn sketches
25. Meta Christy, DO ’21, graduation portrait
26. Student Wives Club handbook, 1965
27. Bone box contents card
28. Commencement cover of Digest Magazine, 1990
29. Ribbon cutting of Lotman Lobby, 1999
30. PCOM Georgia commencement booklet, 2020
31. Plaque recognizing Thomas Rowland, DO, 1979
32. Old signage outside of Rowland Hall, late 1970s
33. Levin Admin building, original Moss House Estate, 1960s
34. Schematic of PCOM Georgia, 2018
35. Anatomy lab classroom shot, 1980s
36. Ribbon cutting from PCOM South Georgia, 2019
37. PCOM soccer team photo, 1983
38. Digest cover, 1948
39. Class of 1999 graduation shot
40. Poem penned by a student, Class of 1910
41. 20th commencement booklet, 1919
42. Funny photo from yearbook, 1970s
43. Illustration of first campus location
44. Iota Tau Sigma gavel, 1969-70
45. Old radiology x-ray films
46. Portrait of A.T. Still
47. Commemorative coin from PCOM's 75th anniversary
48. Portrait of late faculty member and OJ Snyder winner, Dr. Fogel
49. Forensic medicine promotional photo
50. Graduation tam belonging to Galen S. Young, Sr., DO
51. PCOM groundbreaking with Paul Barth
52. PCOM Georgia, 2005
53. Old stethoscope
54. City Avenue obelisks, 2001
55. PCOM commemorative plate, 1980
56. Pharmacy typewriter from Georgia archives
57. PCOM Georgia ribbon cutting program, 2005
58. Flounders Day Follies, 1983
59. Photo from Angus Cathie exhibit, 2021
60. PCOM college catalog, 1974
61. Osteopathic Digest newsprint, 1920s
62. A.T. Still had a beard pin
63. New Student Reception greeting with Dean Barth
64. Old doctor's bag

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