Home Sweet Home
This year’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College Alumni Weekend was a time to remember the past, celebrate the present, and look toward a bright future.
As Jefferson continued its yearlong commemoration of its Bicentennial, hundreds of alumni from all over the country came to celebrate each other and their alma mater.
The weekend highlighted Jefferson’s rich history with lectures and tours paying tribute to the founding of Jefferson.
Charles J. Yeo, MD, the Samuel D. Gross Professor and Chair of Surgery, took participants back in time to 1824 with a lecture on the establishment of Jefferson Medical College. Alumni also enjoyed an open house at the new Marion J. Siegman, PhD, FAPS Archives, the state-of-the-art space that is home to the fascinating artifacts of Jefferson. University Archivist F. Michael Angelo led the tour of treasures from the collection.
In addition, the weekend featured a curated walking tour through Laurel Hill Cemetery, the resting place of Jefferson notables George McClellan, Joseph Pancoast, Robley Dunglison, Charles D. Meigs, William P.C. Barton, Oscar Allis, and others.
The Class of 1974 was inducted into the 50-Year Society, and other milestone reunions were held. In addition, the Pennsylvania State University/Sidney Kimmel Medical College Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program celebrated with its own gathering.
Three alumni were honored with awards: Kevan Herold, MD ’79, received the Alumni Achievement Award; Eric S. Schwenk, MD ’08, received the Early Career Award; and Gonzalo E. Aponte, MD ’52, posthumously received the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The weekend also recognized Jefferson’s current successes and predicted a bright, bold future.
Said Ibrahim, MD, the Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, spoke of Jefferson’s commitment to educating the best and brightest physicians, noting the distinguished academic records of today’s students. “For two hundred years, Jefferson has led the way in healthcare, academics, and research,” he said. “It has always been ready and willing to take bold steps to lead the way for others.”
Susan Aldridge, PhD, president of Thomas Jefferson University, told the audience that the state of the university today is strong, and that Jefferson is not only growing in size, but reputation, as it continues to raise the bar for healthcare, education, and research.
Other activities included dinners, luncheons, and student-led campus walking tours that provided an insider’s look at today’s updated academic spaces and clinics. Also, a meet-and-greet was held with photographer Vincent A. Pellegrini, MD ’74, at the Alumni Art Gallery where his works were on display.
