Vital Signs: February 2000

	Budget	Actual	Prior Year
Admissions	2,292	2,426	2,263
Length of Stay	6.09	6.41	5.97
Patient Days	13,965	15,287	13,787
Outpatient Visits	34,874	33,768	35,897

 

World-Renowned Virologist Hilary Koprowski, MD, Honored on the 50th Anniversary of His First Oral Polio Vaccine
World-renowned virologist Hilary Koprowski, MD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Jefferson Medical College, was honored on the anniversary of the first oral polio vaccine treatment he administered on February 25, 50 years ago.

In developing the first oral vaccine in 1950, Dr. Koprowski’s early vaccination trials in the United States, Africa and Poland paved the way for the elimination of polio from the world this year.

Dr. Koprowski’s many achievements also include the development of the rabies vaccine now used throughout the world. He pioneered the development of monoclonal antibodies for the detection and treatment of cancer. 

He continues to study plant-based edible vaccines as Director of the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories and the Center for Neurovirology at Jefferson. He is Professor Laureate at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, where he was director from 1957 to 1991, building Wistar into a leading biomedical research institution.

Dr. Koprowski has won many honors and awards in his distinguished career, such as the Legion of Honor of France and the Philadelphia Award. 

He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and other institutions.

Jay S. Greenspan, MD: March of Dimes Volunteer of the Year
Jay S. Greenspan, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Division of Neonatology, Jefferson Medical College, has received the March of Dimes Southeast PA Chapter 1999 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Dr. Greenspan has been a member of the March of Dimes Board of Directors and Chair of the Program Services Committee for four years. He has provided leadership in determining regional perinatal needs and funding and is active in educating the public about the March of Dimes mission and important health issues affecting mothers, infants and children. 

During 1999, Dr. Greenspan established a Folic Acid Council to inform the public and health providers about the importance of folic acid in lowering birth defect risk before and during early pregnancy. Under his leadership in 1997, the chapter published a Perinatal Needs Assessment of the Southeast PA region.

Dr. Greenspan, director of Jefferson's Neonatology Division, oversees nurseries at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and other Jefferson Health System (JHS) member hospitals, as well as at Riddle Memorial Hospital, a JHS alliance partner. His research interests are in neonatal pulmonary disease and outcome studies.

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