PCOMUPDATES
END OF AN ERA ON PCOM CAMPUS The PCOM community said farewell to City Avenue Hospital with a tribute on Tuesday, July 30, 2002. Originally dedicated in 1967 as the Frederic H. Barth Pavilion in honor of the former PCOM president, the hospital officially opened its doors to patients in 1968. During the following 35 years, the hospital played a key role in the lives of PCOM students and faculty and provided essential health care services to area residents. In 1996, PCOM sold the hospital to Graduate Health System, which then sold the facility to Allegheny Health System. When Allegheny went bankrupt in 1998, all of its hospitals, including City Avenue, were taken over by Tenet Health System. Tenet closed City Avenue Hospital in 2000, and PCOM bought the vacant property in March 2001. The hospital was demolished over the winter. The four-acre site will remain a grassy area while plans for its future use are considered. Larry Belkoff, DO, MSc, professor of surgery, urology division (left) and Kenneth Veit, DO, ’76, MBA, dean, open the time capsule housed in the hospital’s cornerstone. Dr. Belkoff served as president of the medical staff and subsequently as medical director of City Avenue Hospital until it closed in 2000.
GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT PROUD DAY FOR PCOM In 2002, PCOM graduated 83 students who earned graduate degrees in one of four programs: Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, Master of Science in Health Sciences – Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Science in Clinical Health Psychology and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. David A. Baron, MS, Ed, DO ’78, professor and chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral science at Temple University School of Medicine, served as commencement speaker.
PHI SIGMA GAMMA AND DONORS RECOGNIZED The Phi Sigma Gamma fraternity and its generous benefactors were recently recognized with a plaque that commemorates the organization’s long history. The plaque is now displayed proudly in PCOM’s dining room. The Brothers of Phi Sigma Gamma wish to thank the many donors who helped to continue the ideals of PCOM’s only surviving fraternity and osteopathic medical society. For more information on Phi Sigma Gamma, please contact the 2002-2003 president, Todd Feathers (DO ’05) at toddfe@pcom.edu.
DINNER HONORS PRIMARY CAREGIVERS The Primary Care Dinner, organized under the leadership of Nicholas Bower (DO ’05), president of PCOM's student chapter of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, was a great success. The dinner, held last fall, attracted over 150 guests. Dr. Carol Henwood, PCOM Class of 1983, gave the keynote speech on the characteristics necessary for a successful and rewarding primary care career. Based on student voting, awards were presented to Saul Jeck, DO, chair, obstetrics and gynecology, as Primary Care Physician of the Year, and David Kuo, DO ’96, medical director, PCOM Healthcare Center - Roxborough Division, as Ambulatory Care Physician of the Year. David Kuo, DO ’96 and Saul Jeck, DO proudly display their awards and pose with Matthew Schure, PhD, PCOM president and CEO. P C O M
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