The students of the inaugural class of Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCOM) at Tower Health will soon begin the third year of their medical school training. After two years of classroom and lab work, they now begin their clinical rotations at Reading Hospital. On Monday, May 15, the students will participate in a “Transition to Clinician” event beginning with a walk from the school to Reading Hospital via 6th Avenue (the Clock Tower entrance). The students will arrive at the hospital campus at approximately 10:45 a.m. Upon their arrival, they will attend a program in the hospital’s Thun/Janssen Auditorium with team members from Tower Health, Reading Hospital, and Drexel University College of Medicine.
Remarks will be made by:
- Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital President and CEO
- Charles B. Cairns, MD, Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean, Drexel University College of Medicine and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs, Drexel University
- Wei Du, MD, Tower Health Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer and Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine
- P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health President and CEO
- Karen Restifo, MD, JD, Regional Vice Dean, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health
“This event is a true milestone in one’s medical school education,” said Karen Restifo, MD, JD, Regional Vice Dean, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health. “This is the first class to transition, which makes it special for the school, the hospital, and the community. Our neighbors have been so welcoming to our students and we want to share this milestone with them.”
Clinical rotations provide medical students with the opportunity to participate in many of the hospital’s departments and interact with residents, fellows, physician faculty, and other members of the clinical care teams while acclimating to working in a hospital environment.
Sue Perrotty added, “Our academic and education programs are just one more aspect that sets Tower Health apart. It is a true honor to welcome these medical students to the Reading Hospital and Tower Health family. During their rotations, they will have the opportunity to learn from wonderful physicians, nurses, and other clinicians.”
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a regional integrated healthcare system that offers compassionate, high-quality, leading-edge healthcare and wellness services to communities in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. With approximately 11,500 employees, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, in partnership with Drexel University. Tower Health is strongly committed to academic medicine and training, including multiple residency and fellowship programs, the Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, and the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading. The system also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; home healthcare provided by Tower Health at Home; TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response; Tower Health Medical Group; Tower Health Providers, our clinically integrated network; and 25 Tower Health Urgent Care facilities across our service area. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.