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Thomas Jefferson University will hold the investiture of its fourth president, Robert L. Barchi, M.D., Ph.D., on Tuesday, October 5, at 10:30 a.m., at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia.

The presidential investiture will give the Jefferson community an opportunity to celebrate its new president. The installation of a new president is a ceremony of dignity with many academic traditions and protocols. The academic procession that begins the event will include delegates from other colleges and universities, as well as Jefferson’s own faculty. Marchers wear the colorful academic regalia of their own institution. Interspersed with musical selections there will be greetings to the new president from representatives of the alumni, faculty, students and staff, as well as messages of good wishes from government leaders.

“This ceremony formally opens the chapter on my new role at Jefferson. I am looking forward to this exciting and challenging opportunity, and to working with an outstanding team of faculty, students, staff, alumni and trustees in shaping a strong future for Thomas Jefferson University,” Dr. Barchi said.

Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, will be the keynote speaker. The focus of Dr. Cohen’s remarks will be “Challenges Facing Academic Health Centers in the 21st Century.”

The actual investiture involves the presentation of the university charter and the presidential medallion to Dr. Barchi by Brian G. Harrison, chair of Thomas Jefferson University’s Board of Trustees. The president's acceptance address will follow.

“Dr. Barchi brings to the Presidency an extraordinary blend of academic leadership experience and professional expertise that will help position the University for continued excellence,” Mr. Harrison said.

Dr. Barchi comes to Jefferson with a dynamic depth of experience as an educator, administrator, clinician and scientist. He became Provost at Penn in 1999, after having spent much of his academic career in the university’s School of Medicine. In addition to his clinical activities as a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular diseases, Dr. Barchi is also a dedicated teacher and a molecular neuroscientist with a strong history of discovery in ion channel research that has been supported by nearly 30 years of continuous NIH funding.

In the afternoon, the festivities will continue with a scientific symposium:

“A Vision of Science: A Look at Jefferson’s Research in the Twenty-First Century.”

The symposium will highlight Jefferson’s research accomplishments. Marion J. Siegman, Ph.D., professor and chair of Physiology, Jefferson Medical College, will preside.

The symposium will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 101 of Thomas Jefferson University’s Bluemle Life Sciences Building, 233 S. 10th St., Philadelphia. Researchers scheduled to speak include:

• Emad S. Alnemri, Ph.D.
  Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
  Jefferson Medical College
• Jeffrey L. Benovic, Ph.D.
  Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
  and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
  Jefferson Medical College
• Laura N. Gitlin, Ph.D.
  Professor of Occupational Therapy
  Jefferson College of Health Professions
• Walter J. Koch, Ph.D.
  Professor of Medicine and Director, Center for Translational Medicine
  Jefferson Medical College
• Judith L. Ross, M.D.
  Professor of Pediatrics
  Jefferson Medical College

Thomas Jefferson University is composed of three schools--Jefferson Medical College, the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies and the Jefferson College of Health Professions. The three colleges enroll more than 2,300 future physicians, scientists and health-care professionals. Founded in 1824, Jefferson Medical College is one of the largest private medical colleges in the nation.