Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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Dedication Sean Harbison, MD Associate Professor, Department of Surgery What do a surgeon, a surfer, a lifeguard, and Napoleon Dynamite have in common? These are all words that Dr. Sean Harbison used to describe himself. While it is difficult to draw a parallel between the down-to-earth surgical clerkship director and the socially inept movie character, it is heartwarming to think that someone in his position could engender such humility. It is for these reasons that we, the Class of 2006, chose to dedicate our yearbook to Dr. Sean Harbison. Thanks for letting us stop by, scrub in, and hold the scalpel. Dr. Sean Harbison was born on May 23, i960 to John and Irene Renee” Harbison. He grew up in Glenside, Pennsylvania flanked by two older sisters and a younger sister and brother. However, Dr. Harbison is not your typical middle child. Renee recounts that her oldest son loved to take things apart, but often had to enlist the assistance of his younger brother, Gavin, to help him rebuild things and even when the two joined forces, there were still pieces left over! The Harbison brothers also shared a great love for animals, though their parents forbade them from bringing any in the house. On one occasion, the boys bought a mouse and hid it in a shoebox. Obviously, the little critter escaped and scared their mother when it meandered into the hallway. Dr. Harbison’s parents, both of whom were teachers, instilled the value of education in their children at an early age. During his childhood, he dreamed of being Jacquc Cousteau. As a junior in high school, he spent a weekend at the University of Delaware with his friends. When he returned home, he told his dad, “I don’t want to be a doctor, all those guys do is study.” During his first two years of college, Dr. Harbison majored in marine biology, which combined his passion for science and his love of the seashore. His father translated that into “I want to be a beach bum!” He ultimately decided that he wanted to pursue medicine and graduated summa cum laude from LaSalle University. His father remembered the moment that he knew that his son was going to be a good doctor. Mr. Harbison had just read a newspaper article about young children who were dying of various diseases and he said to his son. “Scan, what do you do if you lose one of these kids?” Dr. Harbison looked him square in the eye and asked, “Dad, what about the ones we save?” It was this answer that 4 Temple University School of Medicine

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20 Seniors 228 faculty 260 Match Day 274 Student Life 308 Patrons FAR LEFT: Meet Club Read! Jeff Panzer, Kathy McElwec, Corinne Bria, Andy Sheep, Lisa Wray and Kyle Robinson break between innings at a Reading Phillies game. TOP: This anatomy lab group proves that they don’t care just how badly they smell. (L to R): Aisha Taylor, Gia Viggiano, Ann Tannous, Robyn Thomlinson and Mattco Trucco. MIDDLE: Dean Daly stops for a quick ID consult with Dr. Bennett Lorber. BOTTOM: Dr. James Ryan accepts a teaching award. 2006 Skull 3

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demonstrated his son was following the right path. While Dr. Harbison spent his school years close to Broad Street attending Abington High School, LaSalle University, and Temple Medical School, he spent his summer vacations down the shore.” He met his wife while lifeguarding and he says that she “lured him into dating with lunch!” While Sue Harbison corroborates his story, she also contends that he “lured” her into staying out later than she usually expected. Sometimes, she remembers they would stay out so late that he had to borrow money from friends to pay the bar tab! They began dating while he was in medical school and have been happily married for twenty years. Twelve years ago, they welcomed a son named Connor into their family and three short years later, their daughter Grace was born. One attribute Sue emphasizes is that Dr. Harbison is a great father. He rides bikes with the kids and reads to them. She says he is capable of getting on their level and understanding them. In turn, Connor and Grace absolutely adore their father. Grace loves reading American Girl books with her dad and shares his love of music. One year she saved her money and bought an Apple iPod nano so that she could be like her father. Now, she and her dad can rock out together! Connor enjoys ocean kayaking with his dad. In the summer of 2005, Dr. Harbison and Connor kayaked to a buoy that was about two miles off Sea Isle, New Jersey. It was a hazy day and they were soon out of sight. Mrs. Harbison was worried and approached the lifeguards about calling the Coast Guard to rescue her husband and son! Needless to say, the Coast Guard was not dispatched and Dr. Harbison and his son had a great time kayaking and safely returned to shore. Dr. Harbison began surfing as a teenager along the coast of New Jersey, yet this sport has continued to enrich his life and taken him to numerous exotic locales: Mexico, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. Dr. Harbison competes in the long-board events as well as vintage surfboard events. While Dr. Harbison participates in about three amateur surfing competitions a year for various charitable organizations, he de- scribes surfing as a “refuge.” He says, “surfing is an activity in which you have to continually respond to the waves and nature and make it look elegant.” He finds the ocean infinitely fascinating” and describes the solitude of surfing as a “euphoric experience.” Among his surfing buddies, he is known appropriately as “Doc.” Dr. Harbison has passed on his love of surfing to his family. Sue Harbison describes herself as a “fair-weather surfer.” For her fortieth birthday, Dr. Harbison bought her a brand-new surfboard. “Surfing is something that the four of us can relate to. It is something that we do together as a family, said Sue. Keep your eyes peeled for the Harbison family in up-coming surf competitions along the New Jersey shore. After all, the family that surfs together stays together! In addition to surfing. Dr. Harbison also enjoys running. He began running with the track team in high school and continued during his first years of college. He has competed in numerous marathons over the years including the Broad Street Run. Only the truly physically fit should try to keep pace with him because he is fast. 1 remember seeing him walking to his car after he finished the race and I still had three miles left to run! Another little known tidbit about Dr. Harbison is that he is a spectacular chef. His wife says that he selects the menu and cooks the food when guests come to visit. His specialty is ribs with his own secret sauce. Sue Harbison says that preparing the ribs is an all day affair, but the work is certainly worth it as two tough food critics - Connor and Grace - give their dad two big thumbs-up! He even has a cookbook for his sole use and covets the recipes in the New York Times each week. After graduating with a degree in Biology from LaSalle University, Dr. Harbison joined the Temple University School of Medicine Class of 1986. He realized in college that he wanted to be a surgeon and medical school helped shape his perspective of the type of surgeon he wanted to be both in and out of the operating room. He describes his first two continued ABOVE: Dr. Harbison looks adorable in a tuxedo! RIGHT: Striking Rcscmb-lence: Napoleon Dynamite or Dr. Sean Harbison?!? ABOVE: Temple University School of Medicine Class of 1986: Dr. Harbison receives his medical school diploma. 2006 skull 5