Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Synapsis Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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President ' s Page ii To the Class of 1978: In September, 1974, after an average of sixteen years of preparatory work, 200 students entered the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. In December, 1974, after 24 years with PCOM, I was inaugurated President. The class of 1978, then, is the first class that I will witness graduate in my ca- pacity as President of our college. Is it four years already? Like your- selves, I suppose, I feel that in many ways it has seemed shorter — and, in so many ways, it seems forever. As first year students, you heard of the goals outlined by our administra- tion: ... to provide the finest in os- teopathic medical education. ... to be at the center of region- alization of osteopathic care in this area. Although these goals are separate, they are by no means disparate. The re- quirements necessary to provide a quality educational program cannot help but simultaneously elevate the level of patient care. What has happened in these four years to bring us closer to our goals? Basic to our growth as an osteopathic medical college is a whole time pre- clinical and clinical faculty who are readily available to our students. Since you began PCOM in September, 1974, 25 whole time members have been added to our faculty. These appoint- ments have been both in the Basic Sci- ence area and all of the clinical de- partments. Our part time faculty, too, has grown in order to provide additional depth in our teaching program. Today, we boast an active part time faculty of 153 mem- bers. A need of a teaching hospital and also a sound educational program is that of provision of expertise in sub- specialties. Four years later, three physicians have completed residency programs at PCOM, received subspe- cialty training under PCOM sponsor- ship, and returned to whole time status in the areas of Shock and Trauma, Re- spiratory Medicine, and Cardiology. The overall strengthening of our ed- ucational program has borne fruit in the attraction of house staff to our hos- pital. In 1974, we had a total house staff of 9 interns and 19 residents. To- day, our house staff has grown to 20 interns and 29 residents. The in- creased house staff, in its own right, contributes greatly both to our educa- tional and patient care programs. In examining our structure, two new departments have been created: a sep- arate department of Ophthalmology and, a first in the osteopathic profes- sion, a whole time faculty department of Emergency Medicine. So many other developments have happened during the past four years that comprise the new PCOM . These include the establishment of a Neurosensory Diagnostic Center, a high risk Obstetrics Clinic, a well func- tioning Neonatal Intensive Care area in our Nursery, and the recent estab- lishment of a School of Allied Health. Administratively, a number of changes have occurred because, if we are to meet our challenges, we must have individuals capable of facing them. Today, we are working on 4190 City Avenue in order to bring our Anatomy and Chemistry departments from 48th Street to the City Avenue campus. It will be hard for many of us to leave 48th Street as it has been so much a part of our past. But our concern is with the present and future of t)ur college; therefore, closing 48th Street is the practical, if difficult, decision. The support of our alumni to our growth should not go without mention. In our first annual College Growth Fund (1976-1977), our alumni contri- buted over $130,000 to PCOM. An ad- ditional tangible expression of the in- terest of our alumni is the Archival Room in Evans Hall, which holds a trove both of osteopathic and PCOM memorabilia. A strong similarity exists between the past four years of our college ' s his- tory and the past four years of your per- sonal history. I think you will agree that, although solid accomplishment has been achieved in both instances, this accomplishment is only a begin- ning. The lifetime of an individual and the lifetime of a corporation are both dynamic processes. Is it ever possible to say, I have learned all I need to learn ? It is not possible, either, to state, I have done all that is needed to be done . Room for refinement and im- provement will always be present. And so, with that thought in mind, we both commence. I cannot tell you how strongly I wish for each of you a full and gratifying future. You have been our students and you have given us both life and a reason for being. I thank you . . . and may God bless you. — Thomas M. Rowland, Jr.

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Philadelphia ' s Italian Market

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CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 1978!! Thank you for this opportu- nity to extend my congratula- tions and greetings to your fine class on behalf of the Faculty and Educational Administra- tion. The theme GROWTH is a most fitting one at this time in your careers and in the history of PCOM. You have worked hard and studiously these past four years. You were a select group, and exhibited the GROWTH that has earned for you the privilege and right to be an OS- TEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN. The CLASS of 1978 has ob- served a great deal of growth at PCOM. You have seen the con- tinued expansion of facilities and programs. I am delighted that PCOM ' s Board of Trustees, President and Administration have been committed to peo- ple as well as facilities. This is in the tradition of the os- teopathic concept. This com- mitment has led to a rapid in- crease in the Faculty of PCOM. Ten years ago, there were 23 whole time faculty members, and 131 part time faculty mem- bers, totalling 154. When your class entered PCOM in 1974, there were 70 whole time fac- Dean ' s Page ulty and 149 part time for a total of 219. The total, as you gradu- ate, is 248, with further add i- tions pending. Ninety-five of these are whole time and 153 are part time. The whole time faculty has more than (luad- rupled in the last decade. It has grown significantly in just the last four years. The miracle of PCOM is that staffing has been increased, and tuition has been maintained at reasonable and modest levels at the same time. Education involves people, and I appreciate the direction PCOM has followed. You have been the benefactors along with the countless patients to whom you will minister. The depth, strength and scope of our Fac- ulty engenders a great sense of accomplishment by your Ad- ministration. We would hope some of you will be interested in joining the College Faculty, and that many will become hospital staff members. The numbers we cite do not include the Precep- tors and some of the dedicated physicians at affiliated hospitals who contributed generously to your education. We salute them. This is a large cadre approximat- ing perhaps some 200 physi- cians. PCOM IS YOUR COLLEGE. Visit us fre(juently. Keep in touch. We are here to guide you and be of assistance. Attend the Continuing Medical Education programs. We value your com- ments. Your evaluation of your education and comments about future graduates as you partici- pate in the preceptorships, staff of affiliated hospitals, and other avenues of education will prove invaluable to us as we assess achievement of goals and objec- tives, and as evaluation con- tinues. Support your College and fulfill your obligation to fu- ture generations of students. Be proud of being an Os- teopathic Physician. Be proud of your College. Be loyal to both. They have provided you many opportunities. Rise to the chal- lenge before you. You are a unique Class. I have enjoyed being your Dean. It has been a privilege to work with you. PCOM and the Dean ' s Of- fice are here to serve you. On behalf of the Faculty, all the members of the Educational Administration, and our PCOM team, may I extend hearty best wishes to each one. May God bless you. — Robert W. England D.O. DEAN