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EVENT: David C. Leach, M.D, executive director of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, will receive an honorary doctor of science degree at the 180th Annual Commencement of Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Leach’s organization is a private, non-profit organization that accredits about 7,800 medical residency programs in 26 medical specialties involving nearly 100,000 medical residents. Its mission is to improve the quality of health care in the United States by ensuring and improving the quality of graduate medical education for physicians in training.

Doctor of medicine degrees will also be presented to 228 medical students (123 male, 105 female) at the ceremony. In addition, 22 doctor of philosophy degrees (12 male, 10 female) and 33 master of science degrees (14 male, 19 female) will be conferred on students in the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies.

DATE: Friday, June 4, 2004

TIME: 10:30 a.m.

LOCATION: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia

SPEAKERS:

• Paul C. Brucker, M.D.
  President, Thomas Jefferson University, will deliver the convocation and confer all degrees.
• Thomas J. Nasca, M.D.
  Dean, Jefferson Medical College, will present Doctor of Medicine degrees to Jefferson Medical College students.
• James S. Studdiford III, M.D.
  Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Jefferson, will administer the Oath of Hippocrates.

BACKGROUND: Born in Elmira, New York, Dr. Leach received a bachelor of arts from the University of Toronto in 1965 and a doctor of medicine from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1969. He completed residency training in internal medicine and endocrinology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, and is certified in those disciplines. He also had additional training in pediatric endocrinology. He was awarded the “Good Samaritan Award” by Governor John Engler for his work over 25 years at a Free Clinic in Detroit. He became interested in medical education, was assistant dean at the University of Michigan for several years, primarily directing the Henry Ford experiences for Michigan students, became director of Medical Education at Henry Ford, and subsequently played a role in the affiliation between Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Henry Ford. With David P. Stevens, M.D., he encouraged and implemented an innovative curriculum for CWRU students and for residents at Henry Ford. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supported the student program and the Pew Charitable Trust Partnerships supported the curriculum for residents in their Quality Education Initiative. He is interested in the teaching of improvement skills and aligning accreditation with emerging health care practices.

Thomas Jefferson University is composed of three schools-- Jefferson Medical College, the College of Graduate Studies and the College of Health Professions. The three colleges enroll more than 2,300 future physicians, scientists and health-care professionals. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, part of the academic health center complex, admits more than 40,000 patients a year for advanced treatment and care. Founded in 1824, Jefferson Medical College is one of the largest private medical colleges in the nation, with the largest living alumni group.