Dr. Osterholm's Portrait Presented

References to piety, discipline and a sense of humor abounded when the colleagues and friends of Jewell L. Osterholm, MD, professor of neurosurgery at Jefferson Medical College (JMC) and immediate past department chairman, honored him with the presentation to the University of his portrait, painted by Mark Skolsky.

Frederick A. Simeone, MD, honorary chairman of the portrait committee and Dr. Osterholm's successor as department chairman, praised the honoree for the "stellar fashion" in which he has served medicine in the areas of spinal cord injury and stroke, and given of himself to his students and residents.

Portrait committee chairman, Bruce E. Northup, MD, clinical associate professor in the department, JMC, noted that first and foremost Dr. Osterholm is a surgeon, with the requisite "head of a scholar, hands of an artist and heart of a lion."

Jerome M. Cotler, MD, the Everett J. and Marion Gordon Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, JMC, detailed Dr. Osterholm's role in forming the spinal cord injury center and discussed his contribution to science as an inventor who holds 70 patents here and abroad for oxygenation and nutritional support of neural tissue.

John F. Ditunno Jr., MD, the Michie Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine and department chairman, JMC, said, "I can say now of Dr. Osterholm what I said when he came to Jefferson in 1974: 'He fits in and shares his knowledge openly and without reservation.'"

Joseph S. Gonnella, MD, senior vice president for academic affairs and dean, JMC, called Dr. Osterholm a gentlemen and spoke of the generosity that has prompted him over the years to use his own income for the faculty. Paul C. Brucker, MD, University president, thanked Dr. Osterholm for his contributions to Jefferson and the profession as a physician, a scholar and a scientist.

In response Dr. Osterholm thanked all of those with whom he has worked and continues to work with. "All successes in medicine are now collaborative efforts; there are no super stars, and I'm not sure there ever should have been. He also spoke of the importance of God, family and country and quoted Shakespeare: "My crown is in my heart, not on my head. . . . My crown is called content."

The organist was Frederick B. Wagner, MD, the Grace Revere Osler Professor of Surgery and University Historian.