As the oldest continually-chartered Osteopathic Medical School in the United States, PCOM has a long history of educating surgeons. From humble beginnings as a 2-room infirmary PCOM has grown tremendously over the years, building new campuses  and expanding throughout the city of Philadelphia as the college grew.

The PCOM Department of Surgery was created in 1916 by Dr. D.S.B. Pennock who is known as the "Father of Surgery" at PCOM.

In 1941 the administration at PCOM saw the need to develop a formal surgical residency program so that DO graduates would be prepared to enter the profession with adequate training to treat the wide range of surgical diseases encountered in Philadelphia. This early residency program was 2 years in length and focused on not only what would come to be known as "general surgery" but also incorporated training in obstetrics, gynecologic surgery and orthopedic surgery. One year later the program expanded to 3 years in order to match the length of training of comparable allopathic surgical residency programs.

Below are photographs that document the history of surgery at PCOM along with some of the more influential physicians that have been a part of the PCOM Department of Surgery.

Chairmen of the PCOM Department of Surgery

• D.S.B. Pennock: 1916 - 1946
• James M. Eaton: 1946 - 1962
• Carlton Street: 1962 - 1968
• Herman Kohn: 1968 - 1978
• Galen S. Young: 1978 - 1983
• Daniel L. Wisely: 1983 - 1987
• Nicholas C. Pedano: 1987- 1991
• Arthur J. Sesso:  1991 - Present

David Sand Brown Pennock, DO, MD (KCOM 1901)

Dr. Pennock graduated with a DO degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1901. At that time the state of Pennsylvania did not recognize DOs as surgeons so Dr. Pennock attended Hahnemann University School of Medicine in order to get his MD degree and license to practice surgery. Folllowing graduation from Hahnemann Dr. Pennock came to PCOM to be a clinician and educator. Dr. Pennock became PCOMs first professor of neurophysiology, started the Department of Surgery and later went on to start the PCOM Surgical Residency Program in 1941.

During his early years at PCOM (then known as Philadelphic Osteopathic College) Dr. Pennock was instrumental in developing the osteopathic medical school curriculum. He submitted a great deal of correspondence, along with many other DOs, to Washington, D.C. in order to help DOs gain practice rights nationally as fully licensed physicians.  Among these practice rights was lobbying for the state of Pennsylvania to pass the "State Surgeons Bill" in 1923, which gave osteopathic physicians the right to practice surgery. Countless lectures, editorials and other publications in the early osteopathic literature carry D.S.B. Pennock's name.

Dr. Pennock was one of the first physicians to lecture nationally on the physiology and proper use of the modern sphygmomanomter (blood pressure cuff) and stethoscope for diagnosing arterial disease.

President, American College of Osteopathy: 1909 - 1910

Dr. Pennock was the first recipient of the PCOM O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal

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James M. Eaton, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1928)

Dr. Eaton is credited as one of the pioneers in orthopedics becoming one of the first specialists in orthopedic surgery on the eastern seaboard. Prior to focusing on orthopedics Dr. Eaton trained at PCOM in general surgery under Dr. Pennock. At the time most orthopedic procedures in the United States were performed by licensed general surgeons. Dr. Eaton is credited with the idea behind forming a professional osteopathic orthopedic surgery society and was one of the founding members of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics in 1941. He also wrote the definition of "orthopedic surgery" as adopted by the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

In 1946 Dr. Eaton developed the PCOM Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program. Not satisfied with just developing the field of orthopedics, Dr. Eaton began to push for a standard of education in all areas of surgery and in 1955 prepared a document entitled "Basic Requirements of an Approved Residency Including the Surgical Subspecialties". This document later became the basis of developing osteopathic training programs in areas other than General and Orthopedic surgery including: Peripheral-Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Urologic Surgery and Neurosurgery.

President, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics: 1942

President, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons: 1954

AOAO Knott Cane Award: 1956

ACOS Orel F. Martin Medal: 1961

AOAO Appreciative Award: 1961

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Carlton Street, DO, FACOS  (PCOM 1924)

Dr. Street was one of the first osteopathic surgeons to recognize the need for surgical subspecialization within the osteopathic profession. Following in the footsteps of Dr. Eaton, Dr. Street worked to create different departments within the PCOM Department of Surgery including Otolaryngology and OB/GYN. At a time when nearly every invasive surgical procedure was performed by general surgeons, Dr. Street anticipated the growing complexity and scope of surgical care and sought to prepare PCOM to be at the forefront of training these newly subspecialized osteopathic physicians.

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Herman Kohn, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1927)

Dr. Kohns early training was in the field of Gynecologic Surgery, an area that was within the scope of practice of early general surgeons. Dr. Kohn was a member of the PCOM Department of Surgery for nearly 40 years when he became Chairman after the passing of Dr. Street.

PCOM O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal: 1974

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Galen S. Young, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1935)

After graduating from PCOM in 1935 Dr. Young completed his internship at the Philadelphia Osteopathic Hospital and for 8 years trained in surgery under D.S.B. Pennock.

Dr. Young was instrumental in the development of the Osteopathic Profession across the United States. In the early 1950'2 Dr. Young met with then Republican Presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower and discussed the lack of federal funding for Osteopathic Medical Education. When Eisenhower was elected in 1952 he became the first U.S. President to include funding for DO schools in the national education budget.

As AOA President from 1959-1960, the time when the California Osteopathic Association merged with the California Medical Association, Dr. Young fought to defeat the movement from spreading throughout the rest of the country and successfully managed to keep osteopathic medicine as a separate but equal entity.

Dr. Young maintained a surgical practice for 45 years, each year being involved teaching students, interns and residents at PCOM. His tenure as a member of the PCOM Department of Surgery began in 1950. Dr. Young became Chairman of Surgery in 1978 and  following that he was then named Professor Emeritus of Surgery, a title he held until his death in 2006.

President, American Osteopathic Association: 1959

Treasurer Emeritus, PCOM Alumni Association: 1965 - 2006

President, PCOM Alumni Association: 1971

Member, PCOM Board of Trustees: 1990 - 2006

Chancellor of PCOM: 1990 - 2006

AOA Distinguised Service Certificate: 1993

ACOS Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award: 1998

In 2007 PCOM honored Dr. Young posthumously by creating the "Galen S. Young Chair in Surgery", the titled to be given to all future chairpersons of the PCOM Department of Surgery.

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Daniel L. Wisely, DO, FACOS

During his time as President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, Dr. Wisely focused on the fact that there was a lack of postgraduate training opportunities for new DO graduates. Dr. Wisely raised awareness of this problem and began a movement to develop osteopathic residency programs throughout the country. He worked to established the Young Surgeons Committee which helped young osteopathic physicians develop their practices by putting them in communication with more experiences physicians.

Dr. Wisely was a true educator and student advocate. He was twice voted by the students as PCOM Clinical Teacher of the Year and inspired creation of the PCOM Surgery Club, officially named the "Daniel L. Wisely Surgical Association".

ACOS Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award: 1982

President, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons: 1983

ACOS Orel F. Martin Medal: 1995

Former Dean of PCOM

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Nicholas C. Pedano, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1961)

Dr. Pedano has been a teacher and mentor to thousands of PCOM students throughout his 40+ year career as a surgeon and educator, and thus has significantly impacted the future of osteopathic surgery. Dr. Pedanos length of service and dedication to his college, students and profession is apparent in his involvement with every facet of osteopathic education.

Lambda Omicron Gamma Award (Education & Medicine): 1975

Member, PCOM Board of Trustees: 1984 - 2009

Member, PCOM Alumni Association Board of Trustees: 1986 - P

Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching: 1993

POMA Distinguished Service Award: 1995

O.J. Snyder Memorial Medal: 1999

PCOM Alumni Association Certificate of Merit: 2001

Named PCOM Professor Emeritus of Surgery: 2001

POMA Board of Trustees Member Award (40 years): 2002

President, PCOM Alumni Association Board of Trustees: 2007

PCOM Alumni Association Certificate of Honor: 2010

Professor Emeritus, PCOM Department of Surgery

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Arthur J. Sesso, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1981)

Since his involvement with the PCOM Department of Surgery in 1981 Dr. Arthur Sesso has been working to develop the PCOM General Surgery Residency Program into what it is today. Dr. Sesso has received endless recognition for mentorship and teaching including several "Teacher of the Year" and "Clinical Professor of the Year" awards.  He is actively involved on the national level with the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and helps to develop the academic standards for osteopathic surgical education.

Henry E. D'Alonzo Award for Interns: 1982

PCOM Intern of the Year: 1982

Henry E. D'Alonzo Resident Award: 1983

PCOM Resident of the Year: 1983

PCOM Chief Surgical Resident: 1985 - 1986

National Surgical Award for Literary Achievements: 1986

PCOM Intern-Class Teacher of the Year Award: 1987

PCOM Clinical Professor of the Year Award: 1987

PCOM Student Council Teacher of the Year Award: 1997

Galen S. Young, DO Chair in Surgery: 2007

ACOS Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award: 2010

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Other Notable PCOM Surgeons

Arthur M. Flack, Jr, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1933)

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Henry A. D'Alonzo, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1951)

Dr. D'Alonzo was one of the first surgeons in Philadelphia to perform an implantable pacemaker operation. He was also one of the first surgeons in the area to successfully operate on a ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneursym.

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Thomas F. A. Powell, DO, FACOS (PCOM 1956)

Dr. Powell was the first African American to train in surgery at PCOM. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952, Powell went on to attend PCOM and graduated with his D.O. degree in 1956. Dr. Powell maintained an active surgical practice and was a well-respected clinical isntructor at PCOM for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1988. Dr. Powell was a former chair of the Surgery Section of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA). Dr. Powell passed away in 2006.

Robert Jama, DO (PCOM 1969)

After completing the PCOM General Surgery Residency, Dr. Jama completed training at Hahneman University Hospital in Trauma Surgery. He was instrumental in developing a curriculum in shock & trauma for the Department of Surgery.

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Joanne C. Chinnici, DO (PCOM 1976)

Dr. Chinnici was the first female to train in general surgery at PCOM. Today she is a Captain in the U.S Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

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Dr. Arthur J. Sesso (DO '81) (center) was the first recipient of the Galen S. Young Chair in Surgery in 2007. Pictured with Dr. Sesso are Galen D. Young (DO '65) and his wife, Elizabeth.

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OR Theater at 19th & Spring Garden, Philadelphia c. 1920

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Dr. Pennock reviewing a chart with a young Dr. D'Alonzo looking on.

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Dr. Carlton Street in the OR performing a GYN operation.

Operating Room 48th & Spruce, Philadephia

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Trauma Bay at North Center Hospital c.1951

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Dr. Henry D'Alonzo in the OR ampitheater at 48th & Spruce 

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Dr. Thomas Francis A. Powell at the beside of a patient.