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F O R A L U M N I & F R I E N D S O F P H I L A D E L P H I A C O L L E G E O F O S T E O P A T H I C M E D I C I N E

1P C O M D I G E S T

For most physicians today, “being a doctor” is complicated;the role demands close attention and conscientious manage-ment on many levels—self, organizational, practice. Healthcare reform, the rapid growth of managed care and the result-ant consolidation of health care providers have transformedmedicine from purely a profession to a profession also man-aged as a business. The cover story of this issue of Digesthighlights one ever-present set of challenges—how physicianscan obtain/maintain financially viable practices while safe-guarding quality care and the doctor-patient relationshipthat are critical to the integrity of the health care system aswell as to the heart of the osteopathic medical practice.This issue also demonstrates some of the research work

being conducted in our PCOM Healthcare Centers.Eugene Mochan, PhD, DO ’77, associate deanfor primary care/continuing education, and professor offamily medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology,along with faculty and student collaborators, has beenconfronting the obesity crisis. Theirs has been a studythat assesses the effectiveness of nutritional, exercise andbehavioral interventions in African Americans strugglingwith this chronic disease.As you read about many of the efforts of the PCOM

community to carry out the instructional, research and service missions of the College, I thank you foryour continued interest in and support of our wonderful institution.Best wishes to you and your families for a happy and healthy summer.

With warmest regards,

Matthew Schure, PhDPresident and Chief Executive Officer

Dear Alumni and Friends,

O P E N I N G R E M A R K S

THE BUSINESS OFBEING A DOCTORNationwide, more physicians are finding itnecessary to add business fundamentals totheir core of medical knowledge. In today’scomplex system of health care, they needto reclaim their voices among managed

care firms, professionaladministrators, andaccountants. They needto know how to maximizepractice efficiencies andincome while ensuringthat the quality of patientcare is not sacrificed.

A WEIGHTY ISSUE: OBESITY STUDYAT PCOM HEALTHCARE CENTERAt PCOM HealthcareCenter – CambriaDivision, Eugene Mochan,PhD, DO ’77, associatedean for primary care/continuing education, andprofessor of family medi-cine, biochemistry andmolecular biology, andcollaborators assess theeffectiveness of nutritional,exercise and behavioralinterventions in African Americans struggling with obesity. For PCOMstudents working with Dr. Mochan, the study involves them in livepatient care.

F E A T U R E S

PCOM UPDATES & KUDOSUpdates on Georgia Campus;Geisinger Medical Center as aPCOM core clinical campus;Physician Assistant Studies programaccreditation; PCOM and Wachoviapartner to empower Philadelphiayouth; Bridging the Gaps annualsymposium; Sacrifice 2 Feed charitybasketball game; 2006 Meta ChristyAward; development activities;and more.

CLASS NOTESCurrent professional endeavors andachievements of PCOM alumni withprofiles of Ronald Blanck, DO ’67;Kristen Lehmann, MS/PA ’00; andStephanie Schneider, MS/Psy ’02.

ESSAYFrederick J. Goldstein, PhD, FCP,professor of clinical pharmacology,department of neuroscience, physiol-ogy, pharmacology; director ofresearch, MEDNet; and director,clinical master of science program;relates experiences at Walter ReedArmy Medical Center that fashionedhis approach to teaching properpain management.

D E P A R T M E N T S

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ON THE COVERMedical acumen must beenmeshed with business savvyin today’s health care system.

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DIGEST8

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GEORGIA CAMPUS RECEIVES ACCREDITATIONAfter a successful team visit from the Commission on Osteopathic College

Accreditation in February, the Commission approved an extension of thePCOM Osteopathic Medicine Program accreditation to Georgia Campus –

PCOM in April.In other GA-

PCOM news, thecampus is continuingits growth with theaddition of a biomed-ical sciences programthat will enroll itsfirst class of 40students this fall. Theprogram will mirrorthe one offered at thePhiladelphia campuswith the addition of anon-thesis track.“The biomedical

program is important to the growth of PCOM and it’s an important opportu-nity for the students in the area,” explains Gary Watson, PhD, director, basicsciences. “Biotechnology is growing in this region,” he continues, “and it’simportant that we offer students an additional training option.” The programwill offer a one-year certificate program and a master’s degree with four con-centrations: thesis research, organizational development and leadership, foren-sic biology and non-thesis. “The non-thesis track may be especially attractiveto high school science teachers who want to earn their master’s degree, butwho may not have a strong interest in a research career,” Dr. Watson explains.In addition to the new program, there are new facilities. Three labs, 12

offices, a conference room, a reception area and a bookstore were recentlycompleted.

GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER NAMED AS A PCOMCORE CLINICAL CAMPUSAn agreement between PCOM and Geisinger Medical Center in Danville,

PA, will make space available for six PCOM third-year students to completeall their core clerkships at the medical center. “Spending their entire third yearat Geisinger will provide these students with a great sense of continuity withinthe Geisinger community,” explains Kenneth J. Veit, DO ’76, MBA, seniorvice president for academic affairs and dean. “Geisinger is a premier tertiarycare center that offers all the clerkship opportunities our students need. Thehope is that some of the students will stay at Geisinger for their internship,residency and practice, making this program a pipeline for PCOM studentsto become Geisinger physicians.” In addition to this new program, whichbegan in June, Geisinger continues to be a clerkship option for students inall disciplines.

E D I T O RJennifer Schaffer Leone

C R E A T I V E D I R E C T O RWendy W. Romano

A S S O C I A T E E D I T O RCarol L. Weisl

A L U M N I E D I T O R SMadeline LawPamela Ruoff

Florence D. Zeller

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E RLisa Smith

C O N T R I B U T I N G D E S I G N E RAbigail Clayton

C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R SJeffrey Bramnick

Frederick J. GoldsteinNancy West

P H O T O G R A P H E R SBruce FairfieldJohn ShetronTabatha Trolli

CONTACT US

Phone: 215-871-6300Fax: 215-871-6307E-mail: [email protected]: 4180 City Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19131-1695www.pcom.edu

Digest, the magazine for alumni and friends ofPhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine(Vol. 67, No. 2, USPS, 413-060), is publishedthree times a year by the Departments ofMarketing and Communications andAlumni Relations and Development.

Periodical postage paid at Bala Cynwyd, PA,and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:Digest

Alumni Relations and DevelopmentPhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

4180 City AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19131-1695

Opinions expressed are not necessarily sharedby the College or the editors.

DIGEST

PCOMUPDATE S


A bookstore is among the new additions to the Georgia campus.

PCOMUPDATE S

PA PROGRAM REACCREDITEDThe Physician Assistant Studies

program received a full, five-yearreaccreditation from the AccreditationReview Commission on Education forthe Physician Assistant (ARCPA).This accreditation results from acomprehensive self-study developedby the department and a site visit byARCPA, conducted in October 2005.The five-year accreditation signifiesthat PCOM's Physician AssistantStudies program meets high standardsin all areas, including faculty andadministration, curriculum andinstruction, educational outcomesevaluation, student life andeducational resources.

OMM FELLOWS NAMEDThird-year medical students Danielle

Campbell (DO ’08), Kristofer Feeko(DO ’08), Michael Lowney (DO ’08),and Kelli Young (DO ’08) havebeen accepted into PCOM’s OMMfellowship program. As OMM fellows,they will attend PCOM for anadditional 12 months over a three-year period, serving in the College’sOMM department. The four cite theopportunity to promote and teachOMM as well as conduct OMMresearch and practice OMM as someof the key reasons for their participationin the fellowship program.“Becoming an undergraduate fellow

affords me the opportunity to furthermy education while promoting thepractice of OMM to my colleagues,”notes Ms. Young. “This fellowship willalso allow me to participate in osteo-pathic clinical research, which may laythe groundwork for future advance-ments in our profession.” Mr. Lowneypoints out that “OMM is the founda-tion of our profession. This fellowshipwill allow me to have a better grasp onOMM techniques as well as providean outlet to teach my peers what Ihave learned.”“I think of the fellowship as an

opportunity to further my educationand hone my skills as an osteopathicphysician,” explains Mr. Feeko. “The

fellowship also affords me the chanceto apply osteopathic treatmentmodalities across many differentdisease presentations.” Ms. Campbellconcludes that “My goal is to developmy OMT skills so I can offer as muchto my patients as possible. I likewisewant to share the knowledge that hasbeen given to me with other futureosteopathic physicians.”An annual College provision sustains

the fellowship program with assistancefrom the C. Paul Snyder, DO ’10, andthe Frieda O. Vickers, DO ’39, andMajor James G. Vickers endowmentfunds. Additional support comes fromspecial gifts earmarked for OMM.

PCOM AND WACHOVIA TEAMUP TO EMPOWER YOUTHPCOM Healthcare Center -

Lancaster Avenue Division received a$50,000 grant from the WachoviaFoundation to provide complete physi-cals, including psychological referrals, toyouth participating in the YouthEmpowerment Centers in West andNorth Philadelphia.“We are very pleased to be able to

assist PCOM in helping these youthwho are working hard to create betterlives for themselves,” says Kevin Dow,community affairs mananger forWachovia in Pennsylvania and

Delaware. The goal of the YouthEmpowerment Centers is to ensure thatall of Philadelphia’s youth have the toolsand opportunities they need to succeedin the workforce. Each center enrollsapproximately 250 youth who receiveGED education, job counseling and jobplacement assistance.The ultimate goal is for the youth

to secure employment. “Once theyouth have a successful job interview,”explains Mr. Dow, “they often need apre-employment physical. Most donot have primary care physicians, norare they insured or financially able topay for a physical, and that’s whereWachovia’s assistance to PCOMcomes in.”With financial support from

Wachovia, Healthcare Center DirectorIzola David, DO ’85, and the otherphysicians at the Lancaster AvenueDivision Healthcare Center will providephysicals, including any necessary labwork, over the course of the year toapproximately 145 youths from theEmpowerment Centers.

LEGISLATORS ON CAMPUSState and city legislators visited

PCOM to hear about the College’saccomplishments and goals and todiscuss how they can help PCOMachieve its mission.

Philadelphia City Councilman MichaelNutter (right) chats with Kenneth J. Veit, DO’76, MBA, senior vice president for academicaffairs and dean.

The new OMM fellows (clockwise from topleft): Michael Lowney (DO ’08), KristoferFeeko (DO ’08), Danielle Campbell (DO’08) and Kelli Young (DO ’08).

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PCOMUPDATE S

Rani Bright, MBBS, assistantprofessor, pathology, microbiology &immunology and forensic medicine,gave a presentation on avian influenzaat the University of Medicine andDentistry of New Jersey and at Heartof Lancaster Hospital in Lancaster,Pennsylvania.Ray Christner, PhD, assistant

professor, director, EdS/certification,school psychology; RosemaryMennuti, EdD, professor, director,school psychology; Lydia Brill(PsyD); and Ashley Kase, MS ’05(EdS ’08) presented “Prevention andIntervention with Adolescents:Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches”at the Association of SchoolPsychologists of Pennsylvania’sannual spring conference.Paul Evans, DO ’79, vice dean,

GA-PCOM, had his peer-reviewedquestions and explanations on lum-bar and cervical radiculopathy pub-lished in The Core Content Review ofFamily Medicine. He also presented“Musculoskeletal ManipulationWorkshop for Neck and Back Pain”at Case Western Reserve University,School of Medicine.Katherine Galluzzi, DO, chair,

geriatrics, received the Barbara Bell,MD Award for distinguished servicein geriatrics from the EasternPennsylvania Geriatrics Society.She has also been recertified infamily practice and osteopathicmanipulative treatment by theAmerican Osteopathic Board ofFamily Physicians.Mindy George-Weinstein, PhD,

professor, anatomy, received a grantfrom the National Institutes ofHealth for approximately $1.4 mil-lion. This five-year grant will allowDr. George-Weinstein and hercollaborator at Lankenau Institutefor Medical Research to study theregulation of skeletal muscle develop-ment. Dr. George-Weinstein hashad continuous NIH funding forapproximately 15 years.

| Kudos


BRIDGING THE GAPSSYMPOSIUMThe annual Bridging the Gaps

(BTG) symposium held in Januaryshowcased the 19 BTG projects inwhich PCOM DO studentsparticipated over the summer. BTGallows teams of students to provideservice while learning to consider theimpact of socio-economic factors andthe health care system on a

community’s health. Working in directservice at community-based programssuch as child or elder care, a women’stransitional residence or a men’sHIV support program, the studentsspend seven weeks at their assignedcommunity organization.While the PCOM students teach

community responsibility, nutritionor proper oral health, they learn aboutdifferent cultures and, perhaps moreimportantly, about themselves. AndreaPapa (DO ’08) spent the summer atCongreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc.,providing HIV education and preven-tion activities through outreach to theNorth Philadelphia community. Sheadmits she was apprehensive at thebeginning of the program. Knowinglittle of North Philadelphia other thanthe negative images shown on theevening news, she was pleasantlysurprised by the people she encoun-

tered: “The people were kind, helpfuland considerate; they wanted to makea difference in the community just asI did. This experience has made megrow both emotionally and socially.I will take what I learned during myBTG experience and use it to helpme become a caring and sociallyaware physician.”Tessy Thomas (DO ’08) also

worked in North Philadelphia withchildren atDeliveranceEvangelistic Church.“I am not sure if Imade a difference inthe lives of the chil-dren around me,”she says, “but I am100 percent surethat the childrenmade a difference inme.” It is hard tobelieve she did notmake an imprint ontheir lives, especiallywhen she relates thefollowing story.“During a coloringsession one day, I

went from table to table helping thechildren, and I asked them what theywanted to be when they grew up.Three of the girls told me they wantedto be mommies. I told them that beinga mommy was a wonderful thing, butI pressed further and asked them aboutcareer ideas. I asked them if they knewthey could be a mommy and be some-thing else, like a teacher or a doctor ora lawyer. I explained that they hadoptions–so many opportunities ofwhich they are not even aware. Onegirl’s face lit up and said she wanted tobe a mommy and a doctor. I learnedthat I cannot erase the imprints thathave been made on the children bytheir environment; all I could do wasencourage them to see the worldthrough a different pair of eyes.”BTG expands the world for both

the students who serve and for thosewho are served.

Tessy Thomas (DO ’08) (right) and Dan Bak from the Universityof the Sciences in Philadelphia pose with children at DeliveranceEvangelistic Church.

PCOMUPDATE S

Barbara A. Golden, PsyD, assistantprofessor, director of clinical services,psychology, andMeredith Mitstifer,MS (PsyD), presented “Masking theEmotional Response: Drugs, Alcoholand Violence” at the CJ Foundation forSIDS 2006 National Conference. Inaddition, Dr. Golden presented “TheMultidisciplinary Treatment of Patientswith Chronic Pain” to Social Work p.r.n.James B. Hale, PhD, associate

professor, school psychology, receiveda $25,000 grant for his StudentNeuropsychological Profiles forInnovative Teaching (SNAP-FIT)project. The grant provides graduateassistant support for four PCOMschool psychology students toprovide individualized assessmentsfor school children with special needsin Philadelphia, offering childrenand their families academic andbehavioral services.George McCloskey, PhD, associate

professor, co-director, school psychologyresearch, was filmed for a segment onthe use and interpretation of erroranalysis for a one-hour training video onthe Kaufman Test of EducationalAchievement, second edition.Fred Rotgers, PsyD, associate professor,

clinical psychology, co-edited AntisocialPersonality Disorder: A Practitioner’sGuide to Comparative Treatments andco-authored Treating Alcohol Problemswith Beth Arburn Davis, PsyD ’04. Healso co-authored a chapter with LauraSharp (PsyD), “Alcohol Use Disorders,”which was published in the bookImproving Outcomes and PreventingRelapse in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.Ruth Thornton, PhD, professor

and chair, department of biochemistry/molecular biology, received honorablemention in AAAWorld’s annual photocontest for her image of the Sun Ramosaic in Vernon Park, Germantown,Pennsylvania.

| KudosSACRIFICE 2 FEEDPCOM faculty went head to head

with the women DO student body ina charity basketball game to collectfood for those affected by HurricaneKatrina. It was a close game, with thefaculty eking out a four-point win.But the real winners are the recipientsof the many boxes of food that weredonated as admission to this veryexciting game.

Jay Bhatt has been elected nationalpresident of the American MedicalStudent Association (AMSA), thenation’s largest independent medicalstudent organization. Bhatt will bethe first osteopathic student to serveas president in the association’s56-year history.Nathan Jean (DO ’08) and Brent

Schoenfeldt (DO ’08) received astudent research award for mostoriginal project—“IsoTOUCHPressure Monitoring System:Establishing Protocols for GatheringBaseline Data Needed for Teaching

and Research” and “High Techfor High Touch in the CraninalRegion: A Preliminary Report” atthe 2006 American Academy ofOsteopathy Convention. Michael L.Kuchera, DO, professor and director,OMM research, was the project’sprimary author.Mary Sharp Ross (EdS ’07)

presented “The Limited EnglishProficiency/Special EducationStudents: What School PsychologistsNeed to Know” at the Association ofSchool Psychologists of Pennsylvania’sannual spring conference.

Top: Robert Fogel, DO ’58, professor and chair, pathology, microbiology, immunology, playstough defense. Below: The true goal of the game was to collect food for the victims ofHurricane Katrina.

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STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PCOMUPDATE S


SNMA RECOGNIZESLEONARD JOHNSON, DO ’64When the Student National

Medical Association (SNMA) held its16th annual recognition reception thisspring, it took a look backand chose Leonard W.Johnson, DO ’64, as itsMeta Christy Awardrecipient. Dr. Johnsonreceived this award in 1990,the first year it was created.“We felt that Dr. Johnsondeserved to be recognizedagain,” says MasheikaJackson (DO/MBA ’08),SNMA co-president.“Dr. Johnson continuallycontributes to SNMAand PCOM’s minorityrecruitment efforts.” SNMAco-president AnthonyCooper (DO ’08) concurs,“He goes out of his way to approachminority students, to ask how they’redoing, and to help them however hecan.” The College, too, recognized hiscommitment to mentoring studentswhen it awarded Dr. Johnson theO.J. Snyder Memorial Medal in 2003.Dr. Johnson’s commitment to

helping minority students goes

beyond his work at PCOM. Fromtaking a bus full of high schoolstudents to visit colleges to organizinga neighborhood health fair every year,Dr. Johnson is always willing to takethe lead when necessary or lend a

hand when asked. In addition to hiswork as founder, medical director andchief executive officer of SpruceMedical Center, Dr. Johnson stillfinds time to make house calls andcontribute to Florida A&M University,where he earned his undergraduatedegree. Dr. Johnson is also an activemember of Bright Hope Non-profit

Corporation; he serves on the board ofdirectors of the National AdoptionCommittee and is founder and chair-man of Spruce Adolescent Counselingand Education Center, Inc.When asked why he is so

committed to PCOM, he responds,“PCOM was very good to me. WhenI was a student, I was one of fourAfrican Americans in my class. TomRowland [PCOM’s fourth president]went out of his way for us. He calledme up one day and suggested I applyfor a National Defense Student Loan.President Rowland’s attentivenessmade a huge difference for me, and Inever forgot that. I’m always willing tohelp others; I want to see our studentsand PCOM move forward.”SNMA is a national organization

that was established to help under-represented minority students enterand succeed in medical school andreturn to the community to serveminority and indigent populations.The Meta Christy Award was

established in honor of PCOM’s firstminority graduate, Dr. Meta Christy,a member of the class of 1921. Theaward is given in recognition of theexemplary practice of osteopathicmedicine, service to the communityand inspiration to future DOs.

SNMA co-presidents Masheika Jackson (DO/MBA ’08)and Anthony Cooper (DO ’08) present Dr. Johnson withthe Meta Christy Award.

DO DAY ON THE HILLMore than 160 DO students from PCOM and 34

students from GA-PCOM were among the over 800DOs and DO students from across the country whomet with congressional representatives during thisspring’s DO Day on the Hill. Students, staterepresentatives and senators discussed pending legislationthat impacts physicians, medical students and patientcare. Sponsored by the American OsteopathicAssociation, the day focused on three important issues:residency training in non-hospital settings, correction ofthe sustainable growth rate formula for Medicare physi-cian payments and enactment of meaningful medicalliability reforms. The trip to the nation’s Capitol wasmade possible by support from the PennsylvaniaOsteopathic Medical Association, PCOM’s StudentGovernment Association and PCOM’s AlumniAssociation.

AOA President Philip Shettle, DO, spoke at the event’s press conferencewhile Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pennsylvania) and DOs and medicalstudents from across the country looked on.

PCOMUPDATE S

D EVELOPMENT NEWS

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PHONATHON RAISES$177,600 FORDO STUDENTSCHOLARSHIP FUNDThe annual PCOM student

phonathon was held March5-12. During the week, 44PCOM students called morethan 4,000 alumni to updatetheir records and request a giftto the DO Student ScholarshipFund. Half of the funds raised are placed in a separate trustfund from which five percent is given out in financial aid;the other half is available for financial aid immediately. Lastyear, the DO Scholarship Fund gave a total of $155,000 infinancial aid to DO students. Those alumni who were notreached have a chance to support the scholarship during themail campaign now through June 30.

JOHN BENDER, DO ’80,SUPPORTS NICHOLASSCHOLARSHIPDr. Bender, who specializes

in physical medicine and reha-bilitation, practices in FortCollins, Colorado. He made agift of $10,800 to the NicholasS. Nicholas, DO MemorialScholarship. The NicholasScholarship was established in

memory of the former chair of the OMM Department.The scholarship is given to a student who demonstrateshigh achievement in osteopathic manipulative medicine aswell as excellent patient communication skills.

MILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN PROGRESSAlumni, trustees, faculty, staff and friends have

contributed $447,530 as of March 1, 2006, toward thefiscal year goal of $850,000, which must be reached byJune 30, 2006. PCOM President Matthew Schure notedthat this amount is 24 percent more than the College raised

last year in the same period: “Our alumni understand thatthese funds are supporting critical needs of PCOM and arestepping up to meet the challenge.” Campaign funds willbe used to provide flexible funding to enhance studentservices and research and to sustain new clinical facultypositions. Next year’s goal is $1 million.

LOG SCHOLARSHIPAt a special meeting on April 6, 2006, alumni of the

Caduceus Chapter of Lambda Omicron Gamma MedicalSociety (LOG) contributed $82,000 to endow a newscholarship at the College. The group hopes to increase thegift to $100,000; one of the members contributed $3,000anonymously to raise the total to $85,000. Founded as theBlue and White Society in 1926, LOG was a nationalmedical fraternity formally established by students who,as Jews, were not permitted to join the existing medicalsociety. LOG also welcomed women and minoritystudents as members. The local chapter sold its house a fewyears ago and has now contributed the proceeds as well asother remaining chapter funds to establish the scholarship.PCOM recognizes and thanks LOG leadership for thissignificant new scholarship.

Phonathon caller OluyinkaAkinbinu (DO ’09).

Stephen L. Burnstein, DO ’72, and Robert S. Auerbach, DO ’72,share memories of PCOM at the reception for the Caduceus Chapterof the Lambda Omicron Gamma fraternity.

Scholarship donorJohn Bender, DO ’80.


THE BUSINESS OF

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Physicians who

practice medicine

these days need

more than a stethoscope and

a medical school diploma to

succeed. Somewhere along

the line, either through formal

training or practical experience,

they need to acquire an

unprecedented level of business

savvy to operate profitably in

the complex system of health

care that exists in the United

States today.

BEING A DOCTOR

1 0P C O M D I G E S T

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) projectsthat the nation will spend more than $2.1 trillion this year on

health care. That’s more than 15 percent of all the money in the coun-try. And that number is expected to double by 2015. But it hasbecome increasingly challenging for physicians to get their fair shareof the reimbursement pie. As Medicare and other insurers look forways to cut costs, they continue to reduce the level of reimbursementto physicians. With advancements in medical technology, the systemincreasingly pits hospitals against private practices in a competitionfor patients who need outpatient procedures. At the same time, physi-cians are facing increased costs and overhead in their practices. What’sa good doctor to do?It’s vital for physicians to have a firm grasp of business principles as

well as a thorough understanding of how the health care reimburse-ment system works, according to Kenneth J. Veit, DO ’76, MBA,senior vice president for academic affairs and dean. “Physicians needto know how to maximize practice efficiencies and income whileensuring that their patients receive the best quality care,” saysDr. Veit.A growing number of PCOM students are pursuing a joint

DO/MBA degree for this purpose. Many alumni with successfulpractices have learned through practical experience over the years.Here is how some of them are meeting today’s business challenges.

When J. Steven Blake, DO ’89, set out to start a private gas-troenterology practice in 1997, his father, a retired small

business owner, advised, “Read everything you can about running abusiness and set up your practice with as little money as possible.”Heeding that advice, he started out by renting an 8’x10’ exam

room from another physician. He read business books and periodicalsvoraciously. He developed a business plan. And he marketed his prac-tice by driving around the city, knocking on the doors of primarycare physicians and asking for referrals. It was slow going at first.“Most physicians said they already had a GI specialist to whom

they referred their patients,” Dr. Blake recalls. Refusing to take no foran answer, he asked, “If you send 10 patients to a GI specialist eachweek, would you consider sending just one to me? Then, if you’rehappy with the care I provide, perhaps you’ll consider sendingme more.”Over time, his marketing approach and business plan worked.

His practice in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia grew, and todayDr. Blake has a solid base of 50 referring physicians and 12,000patient charts on file. His full-time staff of 14 includes four gastro-enterologists, an internal medicine specialist and a family physician.Last year, he moved his practice to a brand new medical building that

STARTING FROM SCRATCH

J. Steven Blake, DO ’89

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Larissa Dominy, DO ’93

also houses an independent ambulatory endoscopy center.The move to this 6,500-square-foot state-of-the-art facility,which his practice owns, has enabled Dr. Blake to meet anumber of current business challenges.“Medicare is the basis of most changes and challenges

that physicians face,” notes Dr. Blake. “Like all physicians,we are facing a decrease in reimbursement for professionalfees. Since 2000, Medicare has pushed gastroenterologiststo perform endoscopic procedures either in private officesor ambulatory endoscopy centers by drastically reducingreimbursement for any procedures done in the hospital.Many physicians, myself included, responded by establish-ing endoscopy suites in their private offices. However, nowwe are anticipating a mandate from the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania that will require all endoscopic procedures tobe done either in the hospital or in a freestandingendoscopy surgical center. As a result, gastroenterologistswill be forced either to accept lower fees or find a centerwhere they can perform procedures. This led me to buildmy own center.”Dr. Blake adds that he sought investors for his medical

facility but could find no takers because of the malpracticeinsurance crisis. “Potential investors were afraid that wemight leave Pennsylvania and they’d be stuck with a build-ing they couldn’t lease,” he explains. “This is just anotherexample of the business challenges we face.”A comparable experience is that of Robert Finkelstein,

DO ’90, who two years ago, opened a practice indermatology in Sarasota, Florida, but only after conductinghis own extensive market research. “I called hospitals andphysicians in the area and asked a lot of questions todetermine the level of need for dermatologists,” relates Dr.Finkelstein. Convinced by their answers that the area couldsupport another practice, he enlisted the help of anaccountant who specializes in medical startups and abanker, then carefully selected a location for his office. Forthe first year, he pounded the pavements one day a month,calling on primary care physicians to ask for referrals. Healso ran ads in local periodicals and on local cable TV chan-nels. His marketing efforts proved effective and his practicecontinues to grow. His five-year plan includes adding asecond practitioner and opening a second office.“The easier thing is to practice medicine,” reflects Dr.

Finkelstein. “The business side is a far greater challenge.For me, dealing with insurance companies and staying ontop of accounts receivable and payroll is the tough part.Finding quality people to help manage that is essential, and

once you’ve found them, you have to avoid the extremes ofmicromanaging or being too relaxed. It’s a constant effort.”Yet, it is one that Dr. Finkelstein considers well worth it.“It’s really rewarding to cultivate a practice and see it flour-ish,” he says. “Private practice isn’t for everyone, but ifyou’re organized, highly motivated, a good listener and agood manager, you can succeed. It’s very satisfying to moldthe practice according to your own personal values withoutcompromising quality of care.”

Quality of care was the primary factor that motivatedLarissa Dominy, DO ’93, to open a private pedi-

atric practice in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, two years ago. “Ihad practiced in two large groups where each pediatricianwas expected to see such large volumes of patients that I feltquality of care was compromised,” relates Dr. Dominy, whois also a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and pedi-atric clerkship director at PCOM. Before opening her prac-tice, she enlisted the aid of her business-savvy husband toconduct a thorough market research analysis of the area.Together, they determined that, although five pediatricpractices already existed, the growing population could sup-port additional pediatricians. So Dr. Dominy took a “leapof faith” and launched Panda Bear Pediatrics. She estab-lished a referral base by meeting with the senior physicianin each of the OB/GYN practices in the area and, for addi-tional exposure, arranged to speak to birthing classes at thearea hospital about the care of newborns.As her Collegeville practice experienced steady growth of

about 30 patients per month, Dr. Dominy and her husbandbegan to eye another highly promising business opportuni-ty in Gilbertsville, a rural town about a half-hour driveaway that had no pediatricians. “Growth in that area wasand is tremendous,” she relates. “Housing developments arepopping up everywhere on former farmland. I knew that ifI didn’t seize the opportunity to start the town’s first pedi-atric practice, someone else would. I decided to go for itdespite the fact that I was a solo practitioner and wouldreally have to stretch to cover two offices.” Dr. Dominyworked half of each day in each office,and her gamble paid off. Just one yearafter she opened the Gilbertsville

MAINTAININGQUALITY OF CARE

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office, her practice had grown enough to enable her tobring on a partner.“We have no support staff so we do everything ourselves,

from weighing and measuring babies to giving shots to fulloffice exams,” says Dr. Dominy. “The parents love thepersonal care that their children receive from us and welove giving it. We are muchhappier doctors. This is thequality of care I dreamedabout providing when Iopened my practice.”Although Dr. Dominy sees

fewer patients per hour thanshe did in a large group prac-tice, she meets the reimburse-ment challenge by acceptinginsurance only from privatepayers and large HMOgroups, by carefully codingeach claim, and by relentlesslyfighting rejected claims. Still,she has frustrations. “I havelost money on some vaccina-tions due to inconsistentreimbursement rates for theadministration fee,” she relates. “The insurance companiescover the cost of the vaccination itself, but many do notadequately cover the cost of supplies needed to give pedi-atric vaccines or my time as a physician. The only way thisand other inequities will change is if pediatricians rallyaround the issue as a group and fight. I’m all for it.”

Whether you are in private practice or a salariedphysician, there is no way to avoid the business of

medicine, according to Carol Henwood, DO ’83. Sheshould know. In 1985, she joined a solo practitioner in pri-vate practice in the Pottstown, Pennsylvania area. Together,they built the practice into a 24-provider primary caregroup of family practitioners and pediatricians during a

period of enormous growth in the surrounding community.Dr. Henwood served as chair and supervising physician.In 1994, the practice became affiliated with a local com-

munity hospital and expanded to four office locations.Then in 2003, after the hospital and group practice weresold to a for-profit hospital system, Dr. Henwood decided

to return to private practice.Currently, she operates her solopractice as an independent profitcenter of a primary care andinternal medicine group.Dr. Henwood notes that

salaried physicians can pay noless attention than their privatepractice counterparts to businessproductivity. “Most salariedphysicians are paid a salary witha productivity clause,” she notes.“So they must learn to providequality care to an adequate num-ber of patients so their employercan pay the bills.”According to Dr. Henwood,

physicians have many resourcesto tap for assistance with the

business of medicine, including professional organizationssuch as the Medical Group Management Association andthe American Association of Managed Care Physicians.Young osteopathic physicians will find an excellent mentor-ing network in the Pennsylvania Osteopathic MedicalAssociation (POMA) and the American College ofOsteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). “These organiza-tions work hard to help members with business issues rang-ing from appropriate salary structure and staff to physicianratios for your practice to reviewing capitation and qualityassurance reports,” she says. The last is especially importantin light of the growing trend toward pay for performance.“With pay for performance, insurance companies pay

physicians according to how well they meet or exceeddesignated quality standards for patient care,” explainsDr. Henwood. “Therefore, it’s very important that physi-cians document the care they provide very carefully andmake sure the insurance company’s quality assurancereports accurately reflect that documentation so they arepaid appropriately.”

HOSPITALCONNECTIONS

“Therefore, it’s very importantthat physicians document thecare they provide very carefullyand make sure the insurancecompany’s quality assurancereports accurately reflect thatdocumentation so they arepaid appropriately.”

—Carol Henwood, DO ’83

For this and other purposes, Dr. Henwood is a strongproponent of electronic medical records (EMR).

“Electronic medical records are moving the business ofmedicine forward,” she states. “With EMR, physicians canbetter control their reimbursements through more accurateand thorough documentation in less time. EMR also helpsto ensure the highest quality standards of care—and, as aresult, higher physician pay—by helping physicians to man-age patients more effectively with features such as built-inphysician reminders for routine health maintenance.”Integrated electronic medical records, billing and

practice management systems can enable private practicephysicians to increase their income by as much as $80,000annually, according to Anthony Alfieri, DO ’85, aninterventional cardiologist in Wilmington, Delaware, whois also the founder of Blue Ox Medical Solutions, aprovider of such services. “Some malpractice insurancecompanies will reduce premiums by as much as 15 percentfor physicians who use electronic systems because they haveevidence that these systems enable physicians to provide ahigher level of patient care,” Dr. Alfieri notes. “EMR sys-tems also enhance the physician’s ability to coordinatepatient care among various providers and specialists.”The move to electronic medical records and practice

management software was a unanimous decision forSalvatore Moscatello, DO ’85, and his three partners, whooperate a busy gastroenterology practice in NorthCharleston, South Carolina. He says the $135,000 invest-ment was well worth it. “With nearly 30,000 active patientcharts, our staff was constantly chasing charts all over theoffice,” says Dr. Moscatello. “The EMR has greatlyimproved our efficiency, freed up a former file room for

much-needed clinical space and is helping to reduce over-head costs.”Technology advancements are also helping to drive

the trend to outpatient care facilities such as ambulatorysurgical and endoscopy centers. Dr. Moscatello’s practiceperforms 420 endoscopic procedures each month in theirpractice-owned facility, which they designed and built fromthe ground up in 2003. “It took an enormous investmentof time, energy and money,” he says, “but my partnersand I are committed to long-term investment and growthin our practice.”

As a result of that growth, Dr. Moscatello and his col-leagues are adding two more partners to the practice

this year, a process that will also require an investment. “Abusiness partnership is like a marriage,” observes Dr.Moscatello. “You have to be sure that you share the samephilosophy of patient care, the same work ethic and thesame ability to take risks that will advance the practice. Sowe spend a lot of time interviewing and performing duediligence to make sure we are hiring the right candidateswho will enable us to build on our success.”“The most important business skills are communication

and getting along with people,” he continues. “You mustcommunicate well with your patients, your partners andyour staff.”“You have to learn to delegate to your support staff,”

says Kellie Smaldore, DO ’88, who along with her husbandStephen Smaldore, DO ’88, owns a private primary carepractice with five practitioners and 25,000 patients in BelAir, Maryland. “It’s important to recognize that you can’tdo everything yourself. That’s why it’s essential to hire goodpeople that you can rely on for critical functions like billingand coding.

“Negotiating skills are also essential, especially fordealing successfully with insurance companies,” addsDr. Smaldore. “We’ve learned a lot about runninga practice over the years by attending seminarsand joining organizations like the MedicalGroup Management Association and our statemedical society.”

EMERGING BUSINESSTECHNOLOGY

ESSENTIALBUSINESS SKILLS

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Joshua Coren, DO/MBA ’02

Though many physicians learn the business of being adoctor through practical experience, mentoring and

networking, many are pursuing advanced business degreessuch as the joint DO/MBA program offered by PCOM.Paul Ufberg, DO/MBA ’02, whois currently chief pediatric residentat Miami Children’s Hospital inFlorida, says that the joint degreeprogram helped him define hislong-term career goal—to be ahospital chief of staff. “The jointdegree has allowed me to seemedicine in a different light,” saysDr. Ufberg who plans to pursue afellowship in pediatric gastroen-terology. “I believe that everyphysician needs to be versed inmedical-economic language andconcepts that affect our dailylives. We practice in an environ-ment where insurance companies—not the providers—areruling the day. We each must strive to become leaders inthe field and direct the future of the profession. Businessknowledge will help us achieve that.”Joshua Coren, DO/MBA ’02, aspires to become chair or

dean of a medical school. Currently, he is a clinical assistantprofessor of family medicine at the University of Medicineand Dentistry of New Jersey School of OsteopathicMedicine. He also serves as medical director of theUniversity Doctors Family Medicine Hainesport Office.“Through the DO/MBA program, I learned how to maketangible the services our physicians provide,” says Dr.Coren. “If you don’t understand the costs involved in run-ning the office and you don’t know how to navigate thereimbursement system, you may find yourself in a situationwhere your practice can’t grow. Understanding the financialand business intricacies can help you be a better clinician aswell as a better business manager. For example, you willfind that you are better equipped to help your patientsovercome the limitations of their insurance plans.”When John DiMuro, DO/MBA ’00, entered the joint

degree program, he already had business experience as aninvestment banker. While he wanted to shift gears andbecome a physician, he also wanted to continue to build onhis business expertise. Now an anesthesiologist, he alsoserves as a practice administrator in an interventional pain

medicine practice near Denver, Colorado. “There isn’t adoctor in practice who doesn’t wonder, ‘How can I maxi-mize my income potential?’” says Dr. DiMuro, whose prac-tice is owned by a publicly traded company. “Doctors areconfronted with business decisions ranging from major cap-ital expenditures for equipment and advertising to whetherto buy or lease an X-ray machine. Understanding how to

assess the risk and rewardsinvolved will help you make themost financially sound decisions.”Nicole Heath Sirchio,

DO/MBA ’02, hopes to use herdegree to pursue a position ofleadership where she can advocatefor improvements in physicianreimbursement. Currently aphysician with a family practicein Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Dr.Sirchio observes, “Many doctorshave become too complacentabout accepting what the insur-ance companies pay out. If we

want to change the system, we have to fight. We must doc-ument and submit claims for the care we provide evenwhen we know the insurance won’t reimburse for it. That’sthe only way they’ll see how often we’re providing that serv-ice and ultimately, that will help to convince them that theyneed to pay for it.” Politically active with the ACOFPand POMA, Dr. Sirchio says, “I am determined to makea difference.”

As physicians, our business challenge of the future willbe to better define our intrinsic worth to the out-

come of patient care,” says Dr. Veit. “We’ve done this verypoorly until now. If we want to be considered valuable inthe system and receive reimbursement reflecting that, wemust do a better job of justifying our value. The UnitedStates already spends more on health care than any othercountry, and no one has promised to put more dollars intothe system. So the challenge is how we can work within thesystem to provide quality patient care and maintain finan-cially viable practices with the revenue stream we’re given.This is essential if we are to continue to provide the bestcare to the public, and it’s going to take a lot of leadershipand business knowledge at all levels.”

THE MBA PATH

FUTURE CHALLENGES

“We each must strive tobecome leaders in the fieldand direct the future ofthe profession. Businessknowledge will help usachieve that.”

—Paul Ufberg, DO/MBA ’02

“

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A S E R I E S O F A R T I C L E S O N

R E S E A R C H

A T P C O M


What Eugene Mochan,PhD, DO ’77, associatedean for primary care/con-

tinuing education, and professor of fami-ly medicine, biochemistry and molecularbiology, began as a pilot study aboutthree years ago has led to an ongoingproject utilizing one of PCOM’s greatestresources—its Healthcare Centers. Dr.Mochan and collaborators are studyingthe effectiveness of nutritional, exerciseand behavioral interventions inAfrican Americans (especially women)struggling with obesity. He selectedthis group because it has one of

the highest overweight/obesity rates(about 60 percent) among the Americanpopulation.“We’re learning a lot about tackling

one of our great medical problems, onethat affects so many people that it hasbecome, in essence, our national healthcrisis,” says Dr. Mochan. “Here atPCOM we are utilizing one of ourHealthcare Centers to learn more, toreach out into the community and toeducate our students about obesity andthe chronic diseases it spawns.”Dr. Mochan works to involve fourth-

year students in the study. Obesity,

hypertension, diabetes,hyperlipidemia, arthritis, somecancers—there are so many diseasesthat are related to obesity. “This isfundamental material for fourth-yearstudents that highlights clinicalapplication of American OsteopathicAssociation (AOA) ClinicalCompetencies including patientcare, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement,interpersonal and communicationskills, professionalism, system-basedpractice and osteopathic principles andpractice,” says Dr. Mochan.

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With funding from the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Health as well as privatedonations, Dr. Mochan conductedthe pilot study. He recruited the firstparticipants through churches andthrough local advertising. In the10-week study of 141 African Americanwomen with obesity, there was abouta 5- to 10-percent decrease in weight,accompanied by a reduction in bloodpressure, waist size, body mass indexand other key measurements. “Wesaw enough in the pilot study thatwe wanted to continue the study inthe Healthcare Centers,” recallsDr. Mochan.

Dr. Mochan called Oliver Bullock,DO ’78, director, PCOM HealthcareCenter - Cambria Division. Today, thetwo physician-educators continue towork together to enlarge the study andto teach students why this type ofclinical study is so relevant to theirfuture practice. PCOM students arealso involved, as are undergraduateresearch interns from the College ofNew Jersey, LaSalle, West Chesterand Penn State universities. PCOMstudents and others involved inthe project communicate withLaurie DiRosa, MS, administrativecoordinator and health educator.Dr. Mochan also enlisted the expert-

ise of Frederick Rotgers, PsyD, associateprofessor of psychology. Dr. Rotgerstaught medical students at PCOM atechnique developed by a psychologistat the University of New Mexico calledMotivational Interviewing, a patient-centered method of getting at the heartof a patient’s problem. “The patient isthe authority of his or her own life,”explains Dr. Rotgers.

“We know that the physicians whorelate best to patients get the bestresults,” says Dr. Rotgers. “So, why notteach students to concentrate on whatthe patients need and want?”A motivational interview in the

study at PCOM Healthcare Center -Cambria Division might start some-thing like this: “I’d like to talk with youtoday about diet and exercise. Is thatsomething you’d like to talk about?”The idea is not to tell patients whatthey should do, but rather to ask themif they have an interest in a subjectinvolving their health and to involvethem in learning about which issuesmight be roadblocks to better health.Dr. Mochan was so impressed by Dr.

Rotgers’ work that he has asked Dr.Rotgers to help students in the DOprogram with this technique, and he’salso asked that doctor of psychology inclinical psychology (PsyD) students,many of whom have a plethora of clini-cal experience, become involved withthe project. “PsyD students are verygood at motivational interviewing; theywould certainly provide the teamworkthat has become the model for modernhealth care,” says Dr. Mochan. PsyDstudents also could help in the Cambriastudy with behavioral issues thatimpede progress in efforts to increasephysical activity and decrease unhealthydietary habits.The study at Cambria began in

2005 with more than 50 women and isgrowing. “Dr. Bullock and the staff atCambia have been very supportive; wecouldn’t do it without the effort put outby the entire Cambria team,” empha-sizes Dr. Mochan.“Our patients hear about obesity

on television, they read about it inmagazines; they’re well aware of theproblem,” says Dr. Bullock. “Thisproject allows each patient to be treatedindividually. It allows him/her to holdsomething tangible in his/her hand, aplan for his/her effort.”“For students, it’s an easy way to

get involved in real live patient care,and with the kinds of problems they’relikely to encounter in medical practice,”adds Dr. Bullock.

Teaching: The Core of the StudyThere’s so much for students to gain

from working with the patients in Dr.Mochan’s study that it has encouragedDr. Mochan to continue to expand hisinvestigation into the effectiveness ofexercise, nutritional and behavioralinterventions in treating obesity.“We’d like to continue to take our

study further, out to the community,” hesays. In order to accomplish that, Dr.Mochan will need future students to givethe kind of efforts the project receivedfrom students such as Jovan AdamsMS/BioMed (DO ’09); Jim Gengaro,DO ’06; Lauren Muchorski (DO ’09);and Benjamin Bullock, DO ’06.“The study was perfect for me because

it wasn’t just research in a lab. It helpedme to become involved with patientsvery early,” explains Ms. Muchorski, whoworked on the project while she wasan undergraduate.“Obesity does interest me; it’s such a

tough problem and so many people strug-gle with it. It needs more of our thinkingand efforts.”Benjamin Bullock, DO ’06, the son

of PCOM Healthcare Center -CambriaDivision’s director, worked on the projectduring his fourth-year clerkship. “Thestudy is a kind of self-actualization forpatients,” says the younger Dr. Bullock.“There are no medications; there arelifestyle changes to make, but we providehelp and support.” He adds, “MotivationalInterviewing is consistent with the osteo-pathic approach of treating the patient as aperson, not just treating a disease.”

Left: Drs. Mochan and Rotgers prepare LaurenMuchorski (DO ’09) to conduct a motivationalinterview. Above: Dr. Bullock discusses diet andexercise plans with a patient.

Class of 1932George S.Robinson, DO,Sarasota, FL, isdoing well at theage of 103. Herecently movedinto a newresidence with hiswife, Dorothy. Dr.

Robinson remains active and is amember of the Shriners. He remem-bers his PCO days fondly (he waseducated at the Spring Garden campusand later, at 48th and Spruce) and is aloyal alumnus.

Class of 1950Grace H. Kaiser, DO, Phoenix, AZ,had her third book published. Dr.Kaiser’s Growing Up Farm recountspersonal memories and experiencesat Crestview Farm (Doylestownand Chalfont areas) in the 1920sand 1930s.

Class of 1956Class Agent: Jay H. Joseph, DO610-237-5060Stanford P. Sadick, DO, Prescott, AZ,retired as a full colonel from the U.S.Air Force where he served as asurgeon. Dr. Sadick is a memberof the adjunct faculty at Embry-RiddleAeronautical University and teachesthe course Human Factors in Flight.

Class of 1959Class Agent: Tomulyss Moody, DO937-298-9151Michael F. Avallone, Sr., DO,(deceased), Elkins Park, PA, wasposthumously awarded theDistinguished Fellow Award by theAmerican College of OsteopathicFamily Physicians at the ACOFP’s43rd Convention in Grapevine, Texas.

CLA S SNOTE S

New Challenges, New SuccessesWhen Ronald Blanck, DO ’67, retired from

the military in 2000, he did so with a staggeringarray of accomplishments. He was the first DOto become surgeon general of any of the U.S.commissioned services; he was the first assistantdean for student affairs when the UniformedServices University School of Medicine wasestablished in 1976; and he served as the firstDO chief, department of medicine of BrookeArmy Medical Center in Texas, the Army’ssecond largest medical teaching center. This is inaddition to having served as Army Commander

of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, having commanded two U.S. ArmyHospitals and having been awarded many military honors including theBronze Star and Distinguished Service Medals. Now that he has retired aspresident of University of North Texas Health Science Center at FortWorth (UNTHSC), his list of accomplishments has grown.Dr. Blanck joined UNTHSC after retiring from his 32-year career in

the U.S. Army. UNT Chancellor Lee F. Jackson states, “Dr. Blanck hasled the UNT Health Science Center to unprecedented advancement,achievement and growth.” Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Blanckpoints to doubling student enrollment, tripling research funding, doublingthe size of the campus with the construction of the Center for BioHealthand the purchase of additional adjacent property, and getting the contractto provide patient care for the local public hospital. Dr. Blanck makescertain to point out that, “while I may have been president, credit forthese accomplishments goes to the people who made the growth happen—the faculty, staff and students.”Dr. Blanck says he was drawn to academia because, like the military,

it has a mission based on values other than profit. “It is,” he says, “abouthelping people take care of people. I’m driven by the importance of indi-viduals. I communicate it to my associates. I build it into medical educa-tion curricula. Most importantly, I try to live my values. If you live whatyou believe, others see and follow your example.”Dr. Blanck credits PCOM with providing the broad base of knowledge

he needed to pursue the variety of opportunities that have come his way.“People like Al D’Alonzo, Nick Nicholas, Sr., and Morton Greenwaldwere tremendous teachers,” he recalls. “And the camaraderie and teamworkI experienced at PCOM still influence my interactions with people tothis day.”Dr. Blanck has returned to the East Coast to be closer to his family.

He has joined Edward D. Martin, MD, the co-founder and chairman ofMartin & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm to the health care industry,government and major health care management and technologycompanies. The company is now Martin, Blanck and Associates, Inc.,where Dr. Blanck, no doubt, will help those with whom he consults riseto their next level of excellence.

|Ronald Blanck, DO ’67


E-MAIL YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TO MADELINE LAW: [email protected].

Class of 1963Class Agent: Harvey Spector, DO215-673-0556, [email protected] M. Spector, DO, HuntingdonValley, PA, was the recipient of theDistinguished Service Award presentedby the American College ofOsteopathic Family Physicians.

Class of 1966Class Agent: H. Michael Zal, DO610-664-7223, [email protected] I. Cowen, DO, Saint Davids,PA, was appointed to the board ofdirectors of Episcopal Hospital inPhiladelphia.Alex S. Macaione, DO, Moorestown,NJ, was named a “top doc in derma-tology” by South Jersey Magazine.Merrill J. Mirman, DO, Springfield,PA, was appointed clinical assistantprofessor at Temple University’s Schoolof Medicine.

Class of 1967Class Agent: Sherman Leis, DO610-667-1888, [email protected] Blanck, DO, Fort Worth, TX,was elected to a second four-year termas a member-at-large of the NationalBoard of Medical Examiners.John F. Callahan, DO, Pittston, PA,appeared on “Healthcare Leaders,” aweekly radio program hosted by JeffSavino on WWDB 860 AM in BalaCynwyd, Pennsylvania.Lillian M. Hynes-Longendorfer, DO,Milford, PA, was appointed to theboard of governors of the AmericanOsteopathic College of Pathologists.Dr. Hynes-Longendorfer is chair-person of the pathology departmentat Wayne Memorial Hospital.Marshall H. Sager, DO, Bryn Mawr,PA, was elected to the board of direc-tors of the American Board of MedicalAcupuncture. His term runs fromApril 2005 to March 2009.

Class of 1969Class Agents: David A. Bevan, DO610-642-7637Harry E. Manser, Jr., DO609-477-0800, [email protected]. Clifton Cage, DO, Weatherford,TX, was promoted to assistantprofessor of family medicine at theUniversity of North Texas HealthScience Center. Dr. Cage is thedirector of the Center for ClinicalDrug Trials for the family medicinedepartment and serves as medicaldirector for the Health PsychologyPreceptor Program.

Class of 1971Class Agents: Pat A. Lannuti, DO215-871-6337John Simelaro, DO215-871-6337, [email protected] A. Lannutti, DO, Drexel Hill, PA,had his article titled “Accessing HeartComplications” featured in thePhiladelphia Sunday Tribune.

Class of 1972Class Agent: Joan M. Watkins, DO813-615-7755, [email protected] Pisano, DO, Bryn Mawr,PA, received his board certificationfrom the Certification Board ofNuclear Cardiology.

Class of 1973Class Agent: Herbert J. Rogove, DO949-764-6058,[email protected] J. Mayberry, DO, Lancaster,PA, was appointed medical directorof the Hyperbaric Oxygen and WoundCenter, a collaborative partner centerbetween Lancaster General Hospitaland Curative Health Services.Robert A. Promisloff, DO,Wynnewood, PA, and Paul M.Rutkowski, DO ’06, co-authored anarticle, “Critical Illness Polyneuropathy:A Case Study and Discussion,”which appeared in The Journalof the Pennsylvania OsteopathicMedical Association.

Class of 1975Class Agent: Jon J. O’Brien, SJ, DO202-965-6912, [email protected] A. Lindenbaum, DO, Ivyland,PA, was re-elected president of theExecutive Council of the AmericanCollege of Osteopathic FamilyPhysicians.Theresa A. Walls, DO, Lancaster, PA,was promoted to medical director forBehavioral Health Services at EphrataCommunity Hospital in Lancaster,Pennsylvania.

Class of 1976Class Agent: R. Michael Gallagher, DO856-354-1403, [email protected] E. Aldinger, DO, Belleville, PA,was elected chief of surgery at J.C.Blair Memorial Hospital.Ted S. Eisenberg, DO, Philadelphia,PA, was appointed as a member of theAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons.The society is dedicated to elevatingthe standards and practice of breastcare and breast surgery.

Class of 1977Class Agent: H. Sprague Taveau, IV, DO806-212-5750, [email protected] Bailey, DO, Bethesda, MD, wasappointed to the board of advisors ofthe University of Maryland’s Instituteof Human Virology (IHV). The IHVcombines the disciplines of basicresearch, epidemiology and clinicalresearch to speed the discovery of diag-nostics and therapeutics for a varietyof viral and immune disorders.Robert B. Goldberg, DO, ShortHills, NJ, became president-elect ofthe Medical Society of the State ofNew York.Eugene Mochan, PhD, DO,Thornton, PA, had his article“Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clues to EarlyDiagnosis” featured in Consultant.Daniel D. Wert, DO, Lancaster, PA,was honored as a DistinguishedProfessor by the post-graduateDepartment of Anesthesiology at theUniversity Medical School Hospital inTegucigalpa, Honduras.

CLA S SNOTE S

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Class of 1978Class Agent: Lorraine M. Disipio, DO610-623-7230, [email protected] C. Bullock, DO, Philadelphia,PA, had his article titled “BlacksHighly Afflicted by Colon Cancer”featured in the Philadelphia SundayTribune. Dr. Bullock was recently aguest on the radio show “Neighbor toNeighbor” on station WURD-AM,where he spoke about cancer.Carlo J. DiMarco, DO, Erie, PA, wasappointed professor and regionaldirector of clinical education at LakeErie College of Osteopathic Medicine.Steven D. Kamajian, DO, Montrose,CA, was appointed chief of staff atGlendale Medical Center.

Class of 1979Class Agent: Earl H. Brinser, DO717-272-7321, [email protected] F. Murphy, DO, Erie, PA,joined Lake Erie College ofOsteopathic Medicine - Bradenton asan assistant clinical professor of familymedicine. Dr. Murphy was the recipi-ent of the Wendell N. Rollason Awardfor being a model physician for healthcare systems in the state of Florida.

Class of 1980Class Agent: Steven J. Fagan, DO843-743-7753, [email protected] A. Berkley, DO, Phoenix,AZ, was promoted to the rank ofadmiral in the United States Navy.Dr. Berkley has been in the PublicHealth Service since he was a studentat PCOM.

Class of 1981Class Agent: Gerald E. Dworkin, DO610-520-0690, [email protected] J. Adler-Michaelson, DO,Wangen, Germany, was elected to theboard of directors of the OsteopathicInternational Alliance. He has alsobeen appointed to the AmericanOsteopathic Association’s Council onInternational Osteopathic Educationand Affairs.

Jay S. Feldstein, DO, Landenberg,PA, was appointed senior vice presi-dent of medical affairs and chiefmedical officer at Keystone MercyHealth Plan.James L. Ferguson, DO, Seattle, WA,was appointed chief medical reviewofficer at Verifications, Inc.

Class of 1982Class Agent: Anthony J. Silvagni, DO954-262-1407, [email protected] K. Brady, DO, Danville, PA,joined Susquehanna Physician Servicesin Williamsport, Pennsylvania.Jere R. Eshleman, DO, Williamsport,PA, was named medical director forthe HCR Manor Care, WilliamsportSouth, a skilled nursing facility.Joseph G. Gunselman, DO, Spokane,WA, is owner and winemaker atRobert Karl Cellars (www.robertkarl.com). He is assisted in the winery byhis wife, Rebecca, and his three sons.William J. Meis, DO, Erdenheim,PA, was reappointed chairman of thedepartment of surgery at RoxboroughHospital.Ralph S. Wolf, DO, Merritt Island,FL, co-founded PsychotherapeuticServices, Inc. (www.psychotherapeutic-services.com). PsychotherapeuticServices adapts the continuoustreatment team model of services toa variety of populations, service typesand geographical locations.

Class of 1983Class Agent: Mary Ann Dibiagio, DO724-758-7559, [email protected] A. Boyle, DO, Elmhurst, IL,was appointed chair of the departmentof emergency medicine and coursedirector in the practice of medicine atMidwestern University’s ChicagoCollege of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr.Boyle also serves as an educationalstaff physician at St. James Hospitalin Fields, Illinois.

Gregory J. Lynch, DO, Philadelphia,PA, was elected chairman of theUniversity of Scranton MedicalAlumni Society.Michael F. Ruggiero, DO, CollegeStation, TX, was appointed directorof osteopathic medical educationat Brazos Family Practice Residencyprogram. Dr. Ruggiero is clinicalassistant professor of family andcommunity medicine at Texas A&MHSC College of Medicine.Daria M. Starosta, DO, Doylestown,PA, was appointed emergency roomdirector at Warren Hospital.Dyanne P. Westerberg, DO, GlenMills, PA, co-authored an article,“New Strategies for Diagnosis andManagement of Celiac Disease,”which was published in The Journal ofthe American Osteopathic Association.Cynthia M. Williams, DO, Bethesda,MD, retired from the United StatesNavy in August 2005. Dr. Williamsserved 21 years in the medical corpsas a family physician geriatrician. Sheis presently completing a pain andpalliative medicine fellowship at theNational Institutes of Health.

Class of 1984Class Agent: Paul V. Suhey, DO814-231-2101, [email protected] M. Fox, DO, Niceville, FL,has been appointed chief of staff-electat Sacred Heart Hospital EmeraldCourt, Destin, Florida.David Kasper, DO, Shavertown, PA,co-authored an article, “A MyofascialTrigger Point on the Skull: TreatmentImproves Peak Flow Values in AcuteAsthma Patients,” which was pub-lished in The American Academy ofOsteopathy Journal.Debra K. Spatz, DO, Port Republic,MD, is president-elect of theAmerican Osteopathic Academyof Orthopedics.

CLA S SNOTE S



Class of 1985Class Agent: Michael P. Meyer, DO717-721-5700, [email protected] S. Campbell, DO, White Sands,NM, retired from the United StatesArmy in August 2006 after 30 yearsof military service.Daniel B. Clark, DO, Sligo, PA,retired as a general surgeon in 2004.He is currently a student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary inMassachusetts, working toward hismaster’s of divinity degree.Izola David, DO, Bala Cynwyd, PA,had her article titled “Good NutritionIs Crucial for Mothers” featured in thePhiladelphia Sunday Tribune.Marcella A. Tabor, DO, Mt. Pleasant,SC, joined Palmetto Primary Care inSummerville, South Carolina.Barbara B. Wallis, DO, Dillingham,AK, works with nine other familypractitioners in rural Alaska; they serve28 villages spread over 46,000 squaremiles. Dr. Wallis is based out ofKanakanak Hospital and works closelywith the Alaska Native Medical Centerin Anchorage.Samuel P. Wyche, DO, Wyndmoor,PA, graduated from the adult divisionof the Institute of the PsychoanalyticCenter of Philadelphia.

Class of 1986Class Agent: John C. Sefter, DO410-337-7900Jerome M. Guanciale, DO, MurrellsInlet, SC, was elected chief of staff atWaccamaw Community Hospital.

Class of 1987Class Agent: Thomas J. Dagney, III, DO812-885-3810, [email protected] N. Finkelstein, DO, LafayetteHill, PA, had his article titled “HowYou Can Protect Your Heart” featuredin the Philadelphia Sunday Tribune.Joan M. Grzybowski, DO,Conshohocken, PA, appeared on“Healthcare Leaders,” a weekly radioprogram hosted by Jeff Savino onWWDB 860 AM in Bala Cynwyd,Pennsylvania.

CLA S SNOTE S

First, But Not LastKristen Lehmann, MS/PA ’00 likes to be

first. She was a member of PCOM’s inauguralclass of physician assistants, and she was thefirst PA to join Reconstructive Orthopedicsin Lumberton, New Jersey. Both required alittle extra work on her part, but the rewardswere great.Ms. Lehmann had been working as a physi-

cal therapist for four years in Colorado whenshe first heard about the physician assistantprofession and decided to come East where shehad grown up. Although there were several

established PA programs in the area, Ms. Lehmann applied only toPCOM. “I liked the idea of working side-by-side with DO studentsduring the core curriculum,” she explains. “I also knew there would begood clerkship opportunities.”Building on her experience as a physical therapist, Ms. Lehmann

sought a clerkship at an orthopedic practice. She was only several weeksinto the clerkship when the physicians she was working with started ask-ing her about her future plans; they hoped she would stay. “It was agreat practice, and I knew I would be happy there,” she recalls, “but firstthere were many questions that needed to be answered.“Hiring licensed PAs was still a relatively new concept in New Jersey,”

Lehmann explains. “The doctors had questions about reimbursement,state laws, credentialing and what PAs could and could not do. I did theresearch, which showed how it would benefit the practice to have a PAon staff.” Because of Ms. Lehmann’s research, the practice presently con-sists of five doctors and four PAs, and they are looking to bring anotherPA on staff.“I knew this was what I wanted to do when I applied to PCOM’s

program,” says Ms. Lehmann, “but I didn’t expect it to be as rewardingas it is. I like making differential diagnoses and building relationshipswith patients. Being a PA allows me to figure things out.”Although she was among the first PCOM PA students, Ms. Lehmann

is making sure she isn’t among the last. She comes back to campus acouple times a year as a guest lecturer in musculoskeletal classes, and shehelps students prepare for PA licensure. She serves as a preceptor for PAstudents who are interested in orthopedics and welcomes interestedundergraduate students to shadow her in her practice (she works withJoseph Farrell, DO ’78) and during hospital rounds. She’s involved in amentorship program arranged by the PA alumni committee of whichshe’s a member.“I’m proud to be a graduate of the first class of PCOM PAs,” says

Ms. Lehmann, “but I’m also proud of how the program has grown.”

|Kristen Lehmann,MS/PA ’00

2 32 0 0 6

Michele D. Jones, DO, Allentown,PA, joined the medical staff at SacredHeart Hospital of Allentown.

Class of 1988Class Agent: Eric M. Lipnack, DO856-784-0444, [email protected] A. Ciervo, DO, Marlton, NJ,co-authored an article, “Medical andLegal Issues Related to Brachial PlexusInjuries in Neonates,” which was pub-lished in The Journal of the AmericanOsteopathic Medical Association.Russell G. Clayton, DO, Houston,TX, was appointed vice-president ofmedical affairs at DiscoveryLaboratories, Inc. He is responsible forthe strategic and operational manage-ment of the medical affairs activitiesfor the company’s pipeline SurfactantReplacement Therapies.Kathryn C. Lambert, DO, Marlton,NJ, has been appointed to the NewJersey State Board of MedicalExaminers.Ronald M. Lieberman, DO, Bear,DE, opened the Delaware SpineInstitute in Dover, Delaware.

Class of 1989Class Agents: Judith RichmondPryblick, DO610-366-8445, [email protected] M. Smith, DO423-722-9355, [email protected] B. Bontempo, DO, FortWashington, PA, was elected vicechief of staff at Atlantic GeneralHospital and Health System.

Class of 1990Class Agent: Jennifer Waxler, [email protected] Shipon-Blum, DO,Meadowbrook, PA, was highlighted inan article, “Why Abby Won’t Talk,”published in Time Magazine (February2006). Dr. Shipon-Blum specializes intreating selective mutism through arange of cognitive-behavioral tech-niques aimed at increasing nonverbalinteraction. She has founded the non-profit Selective Mutism Group–Childhood Anxiety Network(selectivemutism.org).

CLA S SNOTE S


Making the Mind-Body ConnectionStephanie Schneider, MS/Psy ’02, saw first-

hand the correlation between physical and mentalhealth when she taught and practiced medicalinformatics at a family medicine practice atChester Crozer Medical Center. “It was apparentthat many of the patients’ problems werepsychosocial and behavioral as much as theywere physical,” she explains. She was intriguedby her observations and wanted to learn more.She shared her interest with a physician at thehospital, Jim McHugh, DO ’68. “Dr. McHugh

encouraged me to come to PCOM,” recalls Ms. Schneider.Ms. Schneider started out in the first class of the master’s program in

clinical health psychology and then entered the advanced graduate studiesprogram in cognitive behavior therapy. The decision to enter the programwas an easy one since, as she points out, “it was the only program focusingon health psychology that emphasized a bio-psychosocial model.”Ms. Schneider now puts that degree to good use as program coordinator

of the Center for Pediatric Traumatic Stress at the Children’s Hospital ofPhiladelphia. As part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network,the center is multidisciplinary in its studies of the effects of medicaltraumatic stress on children, adolescents and families. “We develop anddisseminate empirically based interventions for children and familiesexperiencing trauma in health care as a result of life-threatening illnessor injuries,” explains Ms. Schneider. “We work on two fronts—withpsychosocial health care providers and with medical professionals—to iden-tify potential problems so the patient can receive early intervention.”During the past year, Ms. Schneider co-developed the Pediatric MedicalTraumatic Stress Toolkit for Health Care Professionals, which is distributednationally through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and shehas co-authored two articles on interventions for pediatric traumatic stress.Ms. Schneider has watched PCOM’s master’s degree program grow

since its inception. “The program provides very strong academic andclinical training,” says Ms. Schneider. “In particular, I found the standard-ized patient program to be an extremely helpful training tool. “We werethrown into a standardized patient scenario the first week of school, andwe had six to eight more sessions during the course of the program. It wasnerve-wracking, but it was an excellent teaching experience.”In addition to her work at the center, Ms. Schneider is a practicing

clinician, researcher and teacher. She teaches undergraduate developmentalpsychology courses at Gwynedd-Mercy College, and she teaches develop-mental psychology and professional, legal and ethical issues in PCOM’smaster’s program in clinical and counseling health psychology. “I reallyenjoy teaching at the master’s level,” she explains. “It’s gratifying to watchas the students begin the program thinking of themselves as students andthen transform into thinking of themselves as professionals by the end ofthe program.”

|Stephanie Schneider,MS/Psy ’02


CLA S SNOTE S

Class of 1992Class Agent: Daniel J. Kupas, DO724-845-6360, [email protected] N. Disabella, DO, Bear, DE,hosts the “Sports Health Highlight”show on Voice America Online RadioNetwork (www.health.voiceamerica.com). The show airs on Tuesdays at7:00 p.m.

Class of 1994Class Agent: Judith A. Gardner, DO215-428-9383, [email protected] R. Crist, DO, Lititz, PA,joined the medical staff at AtlantiCareRegional Medical Center.Bryan E. Dorf, DO, South Salem,NY, joined the medical staff atInternal Medicine of New Canaan.

Class of 1995Class Agent: Francis N. Ogbolu, DO606-833-9870Andrew S. Kirschner, DO, BalaCynwyd, PA, released his new booktitled Back Together: Hands-OnHealing for Couples (Running Press,December 2005).

Class of 1996Class Agent: Joanne E. Hullings, DO215-781-0575, [email protected] M. Grogan, DO, Pulaski,WI, joined the medical staff at AuroraHealth Centers in Pulaski andSeymour, Wisconsin.

Class of 1997Class Agent: Daniel W. Matkiwsky, DO908-353-7949Krista Rebo-Massara, DO, StateCollege, PA, received board certifica-tion from the American OsteopathicBoard of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Laurie AnnSpraga, DO,Broomall, PA, isa captain in the144th AreaSupport MedicalCompanystationed in CampCedar, Iraq. Dr.

Spraga’s company is a level-1 battalionaid station. The team consists of onephysician and eight combat medics.They are in charge of medical care forSouthern Iraq.

Class of 1998Class Agent: James V. Lieb, DO814-946-2708Diane F. Godorov, DO, HarkerHeights, TX, has a son, WolfEkkehard Hindrichs (age 19), and adaughter, Sieglinde Hindrichs (age 16).Steven P. Kerner, DO, Chapin, SC,opened Urology Center of theMidlands in Newberry, South Carolina.Jennifer M. Landes, DO,Quakertown, PA, joined Grand ViewMedical Practice—OB-GYNin Chalfont, Pennsburg, andQuakertown, Pennsylvania.Francesco T. Mangano, DO,Loveland, OH, was a recipient of the2005 Robert C. Erwin Literary Award,presented by the American College ofOsteopathic Surgeons, for his papertitled “Early Programmable ValveMalfunctions in PediatricHydrocephalus” (published in theJournal of Neurosurgery). He also had apaper, “A Novel Technique InvolvingSimultaneous Image–Guided andEndoscopic Navigation Without RigidSkull Fixation in Infants,” publishedin Neurosurgery (April 2006).

Class of 1999Class Agent: Tabatha Jeffers, DO814-375-0460, [email protected] A. Hagerty, DO, Wilmette,IL, was a recipient of the 2005Residency Achievement Award pre-sented by the American College ofOsteopathic Surgeons.Kevin L. Kirk, DO, Silver Spring,MD, was a recipient of the 2005Residency Achievement Award pre-sented by the American College ofOsteopathic Surgeons.

Class of 2000Class Agent: Edward Casey, [email protected] K. George, DO, Hummelstown,PA, joined the medical staff of LehighValley Hospital and Health Network.Shawn M. Hazlett, DO, Macungie,PA, joined the medical staff of WarrenHospital. He is also a member of thestaff at Nephrology-HypertensionAssociates of Lehigh Valley in Easton,Pennsylvania.Amy E. Hoffman, DO, Chicago, IL,joined the medical staff of AdvocateLutheran General Hospital in ParkRidge, Illinois.Michael L. Miller, DO, VirginiaBeach, VA, joined Virginia OncologyAssociates.

Class of 2001Class Agents: Connie Andrejko, DO,and Kenneth Andrejko, DO215-873-8384Stephen M. Lago, DO, SinkingSpring, PA, was featured in an articlepublished in the Reading Eagle titled“Daily Diligence.”Lorianne E. Pereira, DO, Cherry Hill,NJ, is a neurocritical fellow atHahnemann University Hospital(through June 2006). In July, she willbecome stroke director at KenmoreMercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York.

Class of 2002Joshua S. Coren, DO, HuntingdonValley, PA, was the first osteopathicfamily physician recipient of theEmerging Leader Award presented bythe Family Medicine EducationConsortium. Dr. Coren is medicaldirector of UMDNJ-SOM, MountLaurel Family Practice.Rachel Fasson Esposito, DO,Connellsville, PA, was profiled in anarticle published in the Daily Couriertitled “Doctor Returns to OpenPractice.”John-Mark Miller, DO, Rome, GA,served as battalion surgeon for the1/172nd Battalion Aid station in ArRamadi, Iraq. In February 2006, hestarted a new family practice in Rome,Georgia. He has two children,Benjamin and Amelia.

2 52 0 0 6

E-MAIL YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TO MADELINE LAW: [email protected]

CLA S SNOTE S

Terry L. Pummer, DO, MahanoyCity, PA, opened a new family practicein Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania.

Class of 2003Mark B. Abraham,DO, Lafayette Hill,PA, joined theDepartment ofFamily Practice atBrandywineHospital,Coatesville,Pennsylvania, on

July 1, 2006. He completed a tradi-tional rotating osteopathic internshipprogram at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospitalbefore completing his residency infamily practice at PCOM-MercySuburban in Norristown, Pennsyl-vania, where he served as one of thechief residents.Adam Colombo, DO, Coopersburg,PA, had his article, “Multiple EruptiveSkin Nodules in the Setting of GastricCarcinoma,” published in The Journalof the Pennsylvania Osteopathic MedicalAssociation.David J. Girardi, DO, and TheresaM. Girardi, DO, Philadelphia, PA,co-authored an article, “HepatorenalSyndrome: Diagnosis and TreatmentLiterature Review,” which waspublished in The Journal of thePennsylvania Osteopathic MedicalAssociation.


SEND US YOUR

CLASSNOTESE-MAIL YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS TOMADELINE LAW: [email protected]

On aPersonal

Note

Sara A. Abbruzzi, DO ’01, Swedesboro, NJ, married A. J. Fenton in September2005. Dr. Abbruzzi works in a private practice in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

Mark B. Abraham, DO '03, married Roberta Rosenblum on December 9, 2005.

Sean Conroy, DO ’95, Glen Mills, PA, and his wife Robyn Shor-Conroy, DO’96, are the proud parents of Dani Kelly, born on January 13, 2006. Dani joinsbrother, Dean, age two, in the growing Conroy family.

Robert E. Davis, DO ’02, Kulpmont, PA, married Kelly Ann Dallabrida onSeptember 17, 2005. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii.

Jon Z. Elliott, DO ’01, Palmyra, PA, and his wife, Sarah, are the proud parentsof Lauren Elizabeth, born on June 20, 2005.

Charles Heller, III, DO ’01, Philadelphia, PA, and his wife, Anjana Trivedi, DO,are the proud parents of Jay Charles, born on March 17, 2006.

Francesco T. Mangano, DO ’98, Loveland, OH, and his wife, Danielle, are theproud parents of Luke Anthony, born on March 28, 2006. Luke joins sisterGabriella in the growing Mangano family.

Wendy A. Mikulski, DO ’03, Oakland, NJ, married James Craig onSeptember 24, 2005, in McMurray, Pennsylvania. The couple honeymoonedin Saint Lucia.

Thomas A. Monko, PA-C ’04, Broken Arrow, OK, married Jocelyn R. Idema,DO ’05, on October 22, 2005, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The couplehoneymooned in the Rocky Mountains.

Christopher L. Stark, DO ’01, Chicago, IL, and his wife, Stacy Bishop-Stark,DO ’01, are the proud parents of Mary, born on October 22, 2005.

Scott M. Weaner, DO ’85, Yardley, PA, and his wife, Liz, welcomed theirsecond set of twins, Emily and Abigail, in September 2005. They join theirbrother and sister, Steven and Rebecca, age two, and two dogs.

Peter Wertheimer, DO ’03, Margate, NJ, married Meghan Quinn on June 4,2005. The couple honeymooned in Saint Kitts.

Daniel J. Wilkin, DO ’02, Hillsdale, NJ, and his wife, Jennifer, are the proudparents of Harrison Daniel, born on August 12, 2005. Dr. Wilkin joinedBergen Primary Care Associates in Emerson, New Jersey.

Brian W. Zimmer, DO ’02, Harrisburg, PA, and his wife, Femabelle R.Bautista-Zimmer, DO ’01, are the proud parents of Ella Cina, born on July23, 2005.

CLA S SNOTE S

2 72 0 0 6

Certificates of MeritRoy A. DeBeer, DO ’67, Long Beach,NY, was inducted as a fellow of theAmerican College of Gastroenterology.

Lawrence D. Hochman, DO ’90,New Port Richey, FL, was inducted asa fellow of the American College ofRadiation Oncology.

Wonsuck Kim, DO ’87, Florence, AL,was elected president of the AlabamaAcademy of Ophthalmology.

Eleanor V. Masterson, DO ’57,Havertown, PA, was the recipient ofthe A.T. Still Medallion of Honor, thehighest honor bestowed by theAmerican Academy of Osteopathy.

Anthony J. Silvagni, DO ’82, FortLauderdale, FL, received the 2006Lifetime Achievement Award from theFlorida Osteopathic MedicalAssociation (FOMA) during its 103rdannual convention. Dr. Silvagni servesas dean of the College of OsteopathicMedicine at Nova SoutheasternUniversity.

Arnold Sokol, DO ’62, Blue Bell,PA, was inducted as a distinguishedfellow of the American College ofOsteopathic Family Physicians.

Harvey M. Spector, DO ’63,Huntingdon Valley, PA, was inductedas president of the PennsylvaniaOsteopathic Medical Association.

Daniel B. Sullivan, DO ’86,Fruitland Park, FL, was inducted as adiplomate of the American Society ofEchocardiography.

Eleanor V. Masterson, DO ’57, was presentedwith the A. T. Still Medallion of Honor byAAO President Kenneth H. Johnson, DO, onMarch 25, 2006.

Anthony J. Silvagni, DO '82, was recog-nized by FOMA for his work as an educatorand mentor, and for his lifelong commit-ment to provide quality health care to thepatients of Forida.

Winifred W. Amalfitano, RN ’56,Waterville, ME, November 28, 2005.

Geraldine P. Baird, DO ’77,Newtown, PA, March 19, 2006.

Edward Freedman, DO ’42,Narberth, PA, January 23, 2006.

Keith D. Gangewere, DO ’80,Clearfield, PA, February 3, 2006.

Jack B. Karlin, DO ’61, Cherry Hill,NJ, March 30, 2006.

Robert Koprince, DO ’55, WestBloomfield, MI, March 5, 2005.

Lucile Lumsden-Joslin, DO ’33,Henderson, NC, March 20, 2006.

Carolyn D. Muroff, DO ’39, Tampa,FL, January 26, 2006.

Charles J. Neun, Jr., DO ’59,Havertown, PA, August 6, 2005.

James P. Shinnick, DO ’68, MullicaHill, NJ, April 23, 2006.

Morton Silver, DO ’53, Havertown,PA, April 19, 2006.

Robert J. Smith, DO ’43, Petaluma,CA, January 19, 2006.

Richard H. Stancliff, DO ’42,Meadville, PA, March 5, 2006.

Leonard Starer, DO ’51, Media, PA,January 19, 2006.

John A. Whyte, Jr., DO ’54,Langhorne, PA, April 13, 2006.

In Memoriam


In 1983, I was on staff as a medicalscientist specializing in pain manage-ment in the Hematology/OncologyDepartment of Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center. My purpose there wasto develop and conduct a clinicalstudy designed to enhance opioidanalgesia. During this time, I alsoreceived requests from oncologists tosee some of their patients who werepresenting with substantial pain. Theyasked me to help improve analgesia forthese persons. Two such cases in whichI participated have influenced mycareer and will continue to do so forthe remainder of my life.The first consult involved a soldier

who had been involved in World WarII in the Phillipine Islands. He hadbeen admitted a few days earlier andwas in constant pain from his spread-ing cancer. When I entered the room,it was clear he was experiencing signif-icant discomfort, but he also had beenrefusing additional treatment. Why?After spending some time with him, Ilearned that he was a survivor of theBataan Death March; he felt that sincehe survived that ordeal—and many ofhis fellow soldiers did not—he shouldhandle this pain with minimal assis-tance. I then discussed the benefits ofimproved analgesia; for example, hewould sleep more comfortably, whichwould increase his ability to eat and

to have the best possible interactionswith his family in this last phase of hislife. Within a relatively short time, heagreed, and thanked me for my time.I subsequently informed his oncologistof the result of this meeting and thenwrote my recommendation forpharmacotherapy. When I saw himthe next day, he was interacting verypositively with his family; it wasclear that the quality of his life hadimproved and remained so until hedied shortly thereafter.A second case that impacted my

life was a consult to see a 21-year-oldwoman in pain who had come intoWalter Reed the previous night; shehad been fighting cancer since the ageof 13, and was now terminal. Withina minute or so after I entered herroom, she took off her oxygen mask; ithad a dull metal flange on it. Right infront of me, she tried to slit her wristbecause of the excruciating pain shewas experiencing. We did not have theoption of sustained-release opioids 23years ago, so I created a plan with theavailable morphine. It was effective.When she died a few days later in hermother’s arms, she was at peace.Jack Kevorkian had the opposite

plan: kill patients who are in pain.His actions prompted me to coin theterm “suicidogen,” a word that meansany condition that causes a person to

consider taking his or her life.*Inadequate pain management is, infact, a suicidogen.These events had a major influence

in shaping my approach to teachingproper pain management. Adequateanalgesia must be provided continu-ously and aggressively. I stronglyadvocate this plan when giving presen-tations to health professionals, frommedical students at PCOM to physi-cians attending continuing medicaleducation programs.Among my most rewarding

moments now are the times whenformer students communicate to methat I helped them learn advancedapproaches to pain managementthat they now use to provide goodanalgesia for their patients.

MyTurn

By Frederick J. Goldstein, PhD, FCP

Frederick J. Goldstein, PhD, FCP

E S SAY

Readers: The staff of Digest welcomes your ideas for essays that would be of interest to the PCOM community. Please submit ideas in writingto Jennifer Schaffer Leone. E-mail [email protected]; fax 215-871-6307; or mail Marketing and Communications, 4180 City Avenue,Philadelphia, PA 19131-1695.

*Goldstein, F.J. “Inadequate Pain Management: A Suicidogen (Dr. Jack Kevorkian: Friend or Foe?)” J Clin Pharmacol 37:1-3 (1997).

ThankstoYOU,

for the first time in thehistory of PCOM, theUNRESTRICTEDANNUALFUND will…

• Reach $1,000,000 inannual support

• Receive an influx of fundingto grow academic programs

• Rival donor participationsupport of other medicalschools

• Promote the involvement ofalumni in the life and growthof the campus

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THEUNRESTRICTED ANNUAL FUNDMILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN

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“An inquiring, analytical mind; an unquenchable thirst for newknowledge; and a heartfelt compassion for the ailing—these areprominent traits among the committed clinicians who havepreserved the passion for medicine.”

- Lois DeBakey, PhD

P C O M E V E N T S

July 282006 Graduate ProgramsCommencementKimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

September 11PCOM Golf ClassicWhitemarsh Valley Country Club,Lafayette Hill, PA

September 14-16Annual Clinical Assembly ofOsteopathic Specialists (ACA)New Orleans Marriott,New Orleans, LA

September 28President’s Recognition ReceptionPCOM Campus, Philadelphia, PA

October 16-202006 American OsteopathicAssociation (AOA) ConventionLas Vegas, NV

2006_digest_no2

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