PCOM Announces Founders’ Day 2022 Honorees
April 21, 2022PCOM has announced that John P. Kearney, vice chairman, PCOM Board of Trustees, and Jeffrey M. Branch, EdD, chair, Department
of Organizational Development and Leadership, are this year’s recipients of the O.J.
Snyder Memorial Medal and the Alumni Association Certificate of Honor, respectively.
Mr. Kearney and Dr. Branch will be honored at the College’s Founders’ Day ceremony
on Friday, April 29, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube.
John P. Kearney
O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal Recipient
John P. Kearney, vice-chairman of the PCOM Board of Trustees, is this year’s recipient of PCOM’s O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal. Mr. Kearney has a
deep history with PCOM, serving on the Board since 2002 and as chairman from 2014-2021.
Under his leadership, PCOM has grown both its geographic footprint and its academic
offerings, while simultaneously keeping tuition increases to a minimum and doubling
the College’s endowment. Retiring in 2014 after 38 years as president of ERICO Corp,
John P. Kearney Associates Inc. and M&K Leasing Inc., Mr. Kearney continues to operate
Kearney Real Estate. He has received numerous awards over the years for his dedication
to the community, including the Four Chaplains Bronze Medallion, an award recognizing
extraordinary contributions to the well-being of others. He is also a previous recipient
of the PCOM President’s Award (2010) and the Alumni Association Certificate of Honor
(2014). Learn more about Mr. Kearney.
About the O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal
The O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal is presented in memory of the co-founder of PCOM and
is the College's highest award, which recognizes leadership and service to the osteopathic profession and to the institution.
Jeffrey M. Branch, EdD
PCOM Alumni Association Certificate of Honor Recipient
Also receiving honors at this year’s Founders’ Day celebration is Jeffrey M. Branch,
EdD, chair of the Department of Organizational Development and Leadership, who will
receive the PCOM Alumni Association Certificate of Honor which recognizes distinguished
services rendered and loyal devotion to PCOM. It is the highest honor bestowed by
the PCOM Alumni Association. Learn more about Dr. Branch.
About Founders' Day
Founders' Day celebrates the birth of PCOM in 1899 by Drs. Snyder and Pressly, who sought to bring the osteopathic philosophy of whole-person
healthcare to Philadelphia. The ceremony on January 27 will celebrate the accomplishments
of the 2023 Founders' Day award recipients who embody the dedication, loyalty and
service to the College that our founders, O.J. Snyder and Mason W. Pressly, exhibited.
About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained
thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral
scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just
symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education,
operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers
graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical
sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling,
physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance
of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its
community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations.
For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Contact Us
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
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