The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

09/08/2026

You're invited to a free virtual event! Our Section on Public Health and Preventive Medicine will host "Infection Control Is Public Health: From Practice to Impact" on Monday, September 28, as part of its Health and Community Program Series (formerly known as the Grand Rounds).

The program will examine infection prevention as a field of public health practice, review its fundamental principles, and highlight its multidisciplinary scope beyond hospital policies and guidelines.

Healthcare providers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, public health professionals, and students interested in infection prevention, patient safety, and population health can register for this free event on our website: https://collegeofphysicians.org/events/infection-control-public-health-practice-impact/

09/06/2026

Founded in 1905, the College's Section on Medical History is one of the oldest groups in the United States devoted to the history of medicine.

Membership is open to everyone and includes lectures, tours, and other engaging programs.

Interested in joining? Visit our website to learn more: https://collegeofphysicians.org/sections/section-medical-history/

09/05/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to attend a free virtual program featuring UCSF physician and bestselling author Robert Wachter, who will discuss his new book, "A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare."

Our writer-in-residence and Columbia Medical Journalism Workshop Director, Stephen Fried, will host the talk this Tuesday, September 8, at 7 p.m.

As part of Columbia's Dialogues on Medical Journalism series, this program is free, open to the public, and will include a Q&A.

RSVP via Zoom here: https://upenn.zoom.us/meeting/register/zHqbLNq7RzC4uJ9hKjjt3A #/registration

09/04/2026

The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is hosting a sensory friendly morning!

Neurodiverse visitors of all ages and their families are invited to the Museum on Saturday, September 12, at 9 a.m.

This pay-what-you-wish early-access opportunity will feature special pop-up exhibits with touch objects, a scavenger hunt, and a quiet room with a coloring activity.

Learn more and RSVP: https://muttermuseum.org/events/sensory-friendly-museum-admission-1/

09/03/2026

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia honors the life and legacy of Joan E. Lynaugh, a nursing pioneer, who served as the Founding Director of the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing and Professor Emerita of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She was a Fellow, participated in the Section of Medical History, and delivered the Kate Hurd Mead Lecture at the College.

During her tenure at Penn’s School of Nursing, Dr. Lynaugh held several leadership roles, including Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Associate Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Teaching Nursing Home Project, and Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Studies.

Penn Nursing describes her greatest institutional impact as developing the history of nursing as a vital, formal field of study. Dr. Lynaugh and her colleagues developed a plan for a nursing research center, which she directed, laying the groundwork for what would become the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing.

She received many accolades for her groundbreaking work, including being named a “living legend” by the American Academy of Nursing and receiving a lifetime achievement award from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.

We express our deepest sympathies to Dr. Lynaugh’s loved ones and colleagues. We are grateful to her for her groundbreaking work in nursing.

Learn more about her impact here: https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/live/news/3697-penn-nursing-mourns-the-passing-of-nursing-pioneer

Photo courtesy of Penn Nursing.

09/02/2026

It was a pleasure to host Stephen Fried at the College last week for a compelling presentation on Yellow Fever epidemics in early Philadelphia.

Drawing on his expertise as an author and journalist, he shed light on the origin of politicized medicine in America, showing how Revolutionary-era politics, medical expertise, civics, and the establishment of public health infrastructure intersected in response to these catastrophic outbreaks.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

For our lineup of upcoming programs, visit: https://collegeofphysicians.org/events/

08/31/2026

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is saddened by the immeasurable loss of Dr. Reed E. Pyeritz, an esteemed medical geneticist, educator, and Fellow for more than 20 years.

Dr. Pyeritz was a leading expert in diagnosing and treating Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition affecting the body’s connective tissue, and related conditions. He co-founded the Marfan Foundation in 1981 and later the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. His research and clinical work on Marfan syndrome are credited with major advancements in understanding and treating the disease, extending patients’ life expectancy by decades. He and his colleagues elucidated the genetic mutations responsible for Marfan, a seminal contribution in the discovery and treatment of the aortic pathology associated with this syndrome.

Beyond this work, Dr. Pyeritz was professor emeritus of medicine and genetics at the University of Pennsylvania. He also wrote and edited many medical reference books, served 13 years in the Army Reserve Medical Corps, and was a nationally ranked triathlete.

The College sends its condolences to Dr. Pyeritz’s loved ones and colleagues. We remember and honor his incredible life and legacy, which you can read about here:

His 44 years of research and clinical work, from 1978 to 2022, advanced the understanding and management of diseases, and extended the life expectancy of Marfan syndrome patients by 30 years.

08/29/2026

The next generation of brilliant medical minds gathered at the College last week for our First Annual Medical Student Social in partnership with the Philadelphia County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the profession!

08/28/2026

From the Behrend Lecture to College Night and Roadmap to Medical School, our fall lineup offers plenty of opportunities to learn, network, and engage with the health community.

Learn more and RSVP for our upcoming programs: https://collegeofphysicians.org/events/

08/27/2026

“The risk has definitely gone up because of lower vaccination numbers.”

Dr. René Najera, Director of Public Health and Editor of History Of Vaccines at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, spoke with The Philadelphia Inquirer about declining measles vaccination rates in Philadelphia-area schools and which communities are most at risk.

Read more:

Measles vaccination rates continue to decline in the Philadelphia area as an outbreak spreads across Pennsylvania.