Dr. Larry R. Kaiser, MD, FACS, FCPP, President and CEO of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia discussed the organization, the oldest and most distinguished private medical society in America, and its public spaces, the Mutter Museum and Benjamin Rush Medicinal Garden. The College, founded in 1787 by 24 prominent Philadelphia physicians, including Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is an elected Fellowship organization of over 1,000 physicians, scientists, scholars, and community leaders committed to making meaningful contributions to patient care, public health, and advancing medical knowledge and education. Today its mission is to serve as a trusted educational resource and to further the understanding of health and disease for the betterment of society.

The college is also a major resource center to scholarly research into medicine and its history, with the Historical Medical Library and its collection of rare books, medical journals and manuscripts.

Dr. Kaiser discussed his biggest initiative, strengthening the Fellowship, building its membership and engagement, creating a Fellows Hub and increasing participation in the different ‘Sections’ devoted to special interests.

He also spoke about the College’s outreach programming to local schools and educators, creating STEM and other curricula to encourage the next generation of physicians, scientists and researchers.

We discussed the Mutter Museum, which shares stories of medicine and public health through incredible collections of rare books, archives, historical objects, and biological specimens.

He discussed its current exhibit open to Museum visitors, Trusted Messengers: Community, Confidence, and COVID-19, which marks the five year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and considers how to build trust in public health. Initially developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Museum in Atlanta, the Philadelphia version features materials used in the development of the COVID vaccine at Penn and spotlights local healthcare workers and organizations.
Tickets may be purchased at www.muttermuseum.org. · Exhibition web link: http://muttermuseum.org/on-view/trusted-messengers

We also discussed a special library exhibition on view now on weekends in the Norris Reading Room, Medicine and Mentorship: From the Archives. It highlights the many pathways physicians and other healers in the United States have followed to learn the art and science of medicine – as apprentices to other physicians, in private anatomy schools, and at home, using printed guides.

The College also produces and hosts The History of Vaccines, an online resource to provide a living, changing chronicle of the compelling history of vaccination. The site aims to increase public knowledge and understanding of the ways in which vaccines, toxoids, and passive immunization work, how they have been developed, and the role they have played in the improvement of human health. The site also discusses some of the controversies about vaccination and some of the challenges, difficulties, and tragic events that have occurred in the use of vaccines.
Finally, we talked about membership and the activities hosted by the College and Museum throughout the year.

The annual Radiant Ball honors Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and one of the most important figures in the history of medicine, happening this year on April 25. There will be shimmering green lighting and Philly’s favorite hot jazz band, Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society, leading an evening of dancing with after-hours access to the museum, light bites, a silent auction, and access to rarely seen collection items related to Curie’s visit and work.

Mütter’s Day Brunch: On May 11th they will host a Members and Fellows Appreciation brunch event at the Museum. It will include food, refreshments, Museum admision, and a 20% discount in our Museum store.

 

collegeofphysicians.org
muttermuseum.org