Richard A. Pascucci, DO 鈥�75 (right, first photo), Zachary M. Herrmann (DO 鈥�16) (right, second photo), and Jessica Mormando (DO 鈥�16) (on screen, fifth photo), are the 2016 recipients of the College鈥檚 OJ Snyder Memorial Medal and Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medals, respectively.
黑料传送门 celebrated its annual Founders鈥� Day on Jan. 22, to honor the College's founders Oscar John Snyder, DO, and Mason Wiley Pressly, DO. Each year's event includes a ceremony honoring the recipients of 黑料传送门's highest honors, the O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal and the Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal.
This year鈥檚 recipient of the Snyder Memorial Medal, Richard A. Pascucci, DO 鈥�75, vice dean for clinical education, chief academic officer of 黑料传送门 MEDNet, and professor of medicine, was honored for the vital role he has played in the graduate medical education of more than 700 osteopathic physicians. He spoke about his history with the College, and all those who helped inspire and encourage him. He also cited his family, and his wife of 42 years, as a constant source of support throughout his career. 鈥淢y occupation as a physician and my role as a teacher have been very important to me, but family comes first,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�
Pressly Memorial Medal recipient Zachary M. Herrmann (DO 鈥�16), was honored for his work on the establishment of the Student Wellness and Academic Transition Team Initiative, the mission of which is to find ways to lower the stress level of the College鈥檚 medical students, increase awareness of mental health disorders among medical students and reduce the stigma surrounding them. Mr. Herrmann cited the sobering statistics surrounding physician and medical student suicide鈥攅ach year, between 250 and 400 physicians die by suicide, and it is among the top causes of death among medical students鈥�as a clear need for this type of program. 鈥淲e want to send the message that it鈥檚 okay if you鈥檙e dealing with mental health issues and help is available,鈥� he said.
GA-黑料传送门 Pressly recipient Jessica Mormando (DO 鈥�16), who appeared via video broadcast from Georgia, advocated tirelessly for her fellow medical students on that campus, establishing a structured mentoring program with more than 100 residents and attending physicians serving as mentors. 鈥淚t was very much about getting into the trenches, calling and emailing physicians individually,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 sent out almost 1,000 emails.鈥� Ms. Pressly also is developing a professional development series of panel presentations that she hopes will be incorporated into the GA-黑料传送门 DO curriculum beginning in fall 2016.
The OJ Snyder Memorial Medal, presented in memory of the co-founder of 黑料传送门, is the College鈥檚 highest award, given in recognition of an individual鈥檚 leadership and service to the osteopathic profession and to the College.
The Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal is presented by 黑料传送门 to students who are recognized by fellow students, faculty and the administration for outstanding achievement and service to the College, the community and the osteopathic profession.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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