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

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said, You have all been like my children over the last four years (aside from actually having a daughter in the class). Our class has been fortunate to see Dr. Sterling not only in the role of professor and dean, but also as a great father. Rachel Sterling even admits that some of her most treasured moments from Temple are the afternoons she spent chatting with her dad in his office. Aside from Temple, medical students, and pharmacology. Dr. Sterling is a man who loves his family and the community in which he lives. He and his wife are actively involved with their synagogue and community service in southern Jersey. When the weather is nice, he and his wife can be seen taking long walks in their neighborhood. He and Rachel like to do crossword puzzles in the evening, and he even enjoys household chores before sitting down in front of the T.V. Dr. Sterling may be an avid sports fan, but his favorite activity of all is going to his children's soccer games and cheering his heart out. This year is of course special for all of us as we earn our M.D.s and prepare for internship, residency, and our careers ahead. It also is a very special year for Dr. Sterling. His daughter Rachel is graduating with us, his son Matthew is graduating from college, and Dr. Sterling and his wife are celebrating thirty years of marriage. He is a devoted husband, father, and most importantly, he is a teacher at heart. Dr. Sterling is a role model for us to be lifelong students and teachers, and as great teachers, we can embrace the principle, the idea, docere. I hope that we never forget all the teachers that have helped us along this journey. Thank you. Dr. Sterling for all that you have done for us. -Jake Feldman and the Class of 2008 2008 SKULL 9

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as in research for trends in medical education. In 1997, Dr. Sterling became the Associate Dean for Medical Education where he has worked to create a close and supportive environment for the entire student body. He has a unique and close relationship with Dr. Reeves as well as everyone in the Office of Student Affairs. Dr. Reeves says, In all my years of medical education, I never met anyone as compassionate, understanding, intelligent, and hard work- found him receptive and responsive to our concerns. From unhappy lectures to test questions to missing lecture notes he makes it a priority to give us feedback and keep us informed. When we hear pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, it is hard not to think of Dr. Sterling. He was an outstanding lecturer, covering a range of topics from autonomic pharmacology to endocrine pharmacology. Dr. Sterling has engaged all of us “You have all been like my children over the last four years.” Left: Gerry and his mother at commencement (PhD, Ohio State, 1977) Center. The young and handsome Dr. Gerald Sterling Right: Gerry and his brother(1957) ing. I aspire to be like him. Dr. Sterling is not the type to sit behind closed doors and dictate educational policy. He works hard to actively involve students in directing their medical education, he has been instrumental in the implementation of the new medical school curriculum, and he works closely with course and clerkship directors. His recent publications have included research regarding the integrated curriculum, ethics, professionalism, and student mental health. This research shows Dr. Sterling's interest and commitment to becoming a better teacher by continually learning. As students, we always have with his weekly workshops in clinical pharmacology, which stem from his belief that we learn best in the context of a clinical problem. He also has led us through review sessions before each pharmacology test, and has always been willing to spend extra time helping students outside of the classroom. Dr. Sterling also consistently ensures that he maintains good relationships with his students through his work as Associate Dean of Medical Education. He is approachable, understanding, and truly cares about each student who walks into his office. It is not hard to believe that Dr. Sterling t TEMPLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

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HOOD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE PROFESSOR VICE CHAIRPERSON, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY Graduation is a cultural tradition considered a rite of passage from one platform in a student's life to another. It has its origins in antiquity where many tribes were found to be celebrating their passing from youth to adulthood through various customs and observances. Today's graduation ceremony is a manifestation of this ancient rite of passage in the modern context. An important part of the graduation ceremony is the giving of hoods. The origin of the hoods lies with the Celts and the Druids (the Celtic priests). Among the Celts, only the Druids wore mantles which had hoods attached to them as a mark of their rank in the society. In the schools of the middle ages, the hoods were worn as a head-covering to resist the frigid temperatures. But gradually, it was integrated into the academic system with much symbolic significance. Now, wearing of hoods symbolizes a kind of authority, a high standing, or to identify a new graduate's institution and the degree. A hood is always black in color, but the edges and and lining have individual significance. The hood is lined in silk with HONORABLE TRADITION 10 TEMPLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE