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

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chairman ' s page Dear Class of 1980: The most rewarding experience for the Board of Trustees comes to us each year on that Sunday afternoon in early June — that exquisite moment — when each member of our graduating class walks to the stage of the Academy of Music — to accept, at the hand of President Rowland, the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy. The members of the Board of Trustees — ever involved and absorbed in the most intimate activities of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, have as one of their principal functions, the duty of approving each candidate for this degree. Imagine then our great pleasure and delight as we watch each graduate — walking proud and tall in the glowing excitement of this greatest achievement — becoming an Osteopathic Physician. We know that we have approved for this degree not only a learned doctor but, as a graduate of PCOM, we know that we have produced and approved a complete and whole person — a concerned and involved American — a humanistic citizen — and a capably productive member of the community. Ours is a responsibility, however, that does not terminate on the day of your graduation. We are sensitively planning, together with the faculty, staff, and administration — greater technological innovations — graduate seminars — creative medical advances — and improved physical facilities in both the school and the hospital. We want you to share these ambitious plans — and we urge your continued interest, involvement and affiliation. Remember that we retain an everlasting concern for your future welfare and success. You are now members of the Osteopathic family — hearty welcome — and congratulations. Sincerely Yours, J. SYDNEY HOFFMAN

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president ' s page To the Class of 1980: What kind of doctor do you want? , I asked. Give me a well trained doctor, give me a doctor who reads. And a doctor who feels for his patient. This one will talk to people, and in plain words. And he will listen. He will not be hurried. He will identify with the patient. He has the personal touch. He will explain, gently and slowly, and over and ove r if necessary. He will share his patient ' s discomfort, he will know his patient ' s fears, and he will feel his pain. For the past four years, a number of the members of the faculty and administration of our college have attempted to impart to you an orientation to patient care such that described above. For, as it exists in the broad sense, this orientation to the care of the whole person is the nexus of the osteopathic philosophy of treatment. The osteopathic profession in 1980 faces a never before realized acceptance in the world of health care. The successful attempts to remove barriers to sharing of medical information by those who have preceeded you was not done in an effort to negate osteopathic distinctiveness; rather, it was an effort to develop the highest possible level of osteopathic care. And the subsequent interchange between the professions of osteopathic and allopathic medicine has been a fruitful one. I have stressed repeatedly that our affluence, in the sense of public and professional acceptance, should not serve as the source of the destruction of our professional integrity. Osteopathic care is not simply osteopathic manipulative therapy. It is a philosophic approach to patient care that implies an ever present awareness that the osteopathic physician is treating the whole person. This is the philosophy of care that has brought us to our present level of success. Our future, as a profession, is dependent upon you — and whether or not, and in what manner, you demonstrate this philosophy in your professional career. I wish to congratulate you upon this achievement, of which you should be so justifiably proud. I also congratulate your families, who I know share in your pride and have contributed greatly to your success. And most of all, I wish you well. We have been privileged and proud to have you as our students and I know that we will be proud of you as our graduates. God bless each of you. JfW J ' lLu iwtuA. Thomas M. Rowland

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dean ' s page CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 1980!! Thank you for the privilege of extending to your distinguished class my congratulations and greetings on behalf of the Faculty and Educational Administration. You have achieved your goal ... to become osteopathic physicians. You have successfully completed a most rigorous and intense program of osteopathic medical education, and have demonstrated your ability and earned the privilege and right to be called OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN. We have seen you grow and mature. Continued growth is inherent in being a physician. You have mastered an abundance of knowledge in these last four years. Medical education will continue throughout your career, including postdoctoral programs and continuing medical education, as you continue to enhance your skills and knowledge and apply these to the art of practice. D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) also stands for DO-er . Become leaders in the profession and the community. Become involved. Be innovative, and be determined to help shape your own future destinies. You are entering the profession at a period of new challenges. Be proud of being an osteopathic physician. Do your part to make this fine profession even greater. Be proud of your College. PCOM ranks in the top ten of all colleges of medicine (both schools of the healing arts) and is the largest osteopathic college. Faculty and facilities continue to grow. Programs are expanding. Remember the dedicated people who made your education possible. Support your college, and fulfill your obligations to future generations of physicians. We are here to serve you as alumni and colleagues. Visit us frequently and take advantage of the CME and other programs we offer the profession. We value your comments and evaluation of your education, and of future students as you participate in the near future in preceptorships, staff of osteopathic hospitals, and other avenues of ducation. This will prove helpful as we assess achievement of goals and objectives. We hope some of you will be interested in joining the College Faculty, and that many will become PCOM hospital staff members. I marvel at the growth and maturity of your class. You have demonstrated that the promise observed by the Admissions Committee was well founded. You have integrated the basic and clinical sciences with the skill and art of practice, and demonstrated able patient care. It has been our privilege to work with you. Do not hesitate to call us for assistance in the future. PCOM and the Dean ' s Office are here to serve you. On behalf of the Faculty, all the members of the Educational Administratio n and our PCOM team, I extend hearty best wishes to each one. May God bless you. Sincerely, Robert W. England D.O. Dean