Celebrating the legacy of founders Mason Wiley Pressly, DO, and Oscar John Snyder, DO, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (黑料传送门) held its annual Founders' Day event on Friday, January 27, awarding the College's highest honors, the O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal and the Alumni Association Certificate of Honor. The ceremony was live streamed on the College's .
Two esteemed alumni, Norman Edward Vinn, DO '77, MBA, and William B. Swallow, DO '79, MS/FM '20, FACOFP; Captain, MC, USNR (ret.), were named 2023 recipients of the O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal and the Alumni Association Certificate of Honor, respectively.
Introduced by Chairman of the 黑料传送门 Board of Trustees, Thomas J. Gravina, President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO '81, reflected on 黑料传送门's humble beginnings. 鈥満诹洗兔�'s legacy began with the vision of Mason Wiley Pressly, DO, and Oscar John Snyder, DO. A number of medical schools and hospitals were already on the scene in 1899 when the physicians set their sights on Philadelphia, a mecca for medical education,鈥� said Dr. Feldstein. 鈥淸Pressly and Snyder] opened the Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy in two rooms of an office building at 21 South 12th Street, establishing the nation's third osteopathic college鈥攐ur College.鈥�
The Alumni Certificate of Honor, awarded this year to Dr. William B. Swallow, was
presented by 黑料传送门 Alumni Association President Paul Lapoint, DO '90. Dr. Lapoint noted
Dr. Swallow's lifelong commitment to the osteopathic profession, saying, 鈥淒r. Swallow has practiced osteopathic family medicine for 42 years while
embedding himself in community service in various capacities.鈥� Dr. Swallow's son,
Jason, accepting the honor on his father's behalf, echoed those comments and emphasized
his father's deep devotion to his alma mater. 鈥淢y dad loves osteopathic medicine,
and he loves this college,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 encourage everyone to continue their support
of the mission and the vision of this great institution.鈥�
Before bestowing Dr. Vinn with the O.J. Snyder Medal, Dr. Feldstein noted Vinn's long career, his early interest in osteopathic medicine, and his family's legacy in the osteopathic profession. 鈥淚t's amazing to me, the more I speak with our alumni, how many legacies we have at this institution,鈥� said Feldstein.
Draped with a medal around his neck, Dr. Vinn began his acceptance by lightheartedly
questioning his qualifications for such an honor, wondering if it may have been a
mistake.鈥淐ould this have been a clerical error,鈥� he joked. Despite his initial bewilderment,
Dr. Vinn was deeply humbled to have been selected for the award and dedicated it to
his late father, Joseph Edward Vinn, DO '41. 鈥淚f there is a reason for this award,
and for my entire career,鈥� he said, 鈥榠t is the inspiration of my father.鈥� Vinn described
his father as a 鈥渟hy, humble person who never sought the spotlight. Just kept his
nose to the grindstone and did what was right for his patients. A supporter and a
role model. An embodiment of duty, loyalty and service.鈥�
鈥淗e deserves to share in this honor,鈥� he added. Vinn also recognized his wife, Marsha, and his three daughters, Lily, Danielle and Vanessa.
Vinn concluded his remarks with commentary on the osteopathic profession, O.J. Snyder, the namesake of the award for which he now joins the list of distinguished recipients, and 黑料传送门 as an institution.
鈥淲e are entering our 125th year at 黑料传送门,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll of the graduates here today appreciate how the school has changed our lives, and that 黑料传送门 will continue to change the lives of others in the future.鈥�
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.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.