Two Faculty From the University of Penn School of Nursing Elected as Fellows to The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Dr. Patricia D’Antonio, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Health, and Dr. Julie Fairman, Director of the Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing have been elected as Fellows in The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Drs. D’Antonio and Fairman join the ranks of more than 1,500 Fellows in The College, the country’s oldest professional medical organization. Founded in 1787 by twenty-four physicians, the goal of The College is "to advance the science of medicine and to thereby lessen human misery." Throughout its 200 year history, The College has provided a place for both medical professionals and the general public to learn about medicine as both a science and an art and to work towards better serving the public.

This historic spirit continues in the current mission that is “to advance the cause of health and uphold the ideals and heritage of medicine.” This is done by enabling individuals, families and communities to take greater responsibility for their health; improving the health of the public through service to health professionals; enhancing appreciation of the heritage of medicine; and providing information for the development of health policy.

Dr. D'Antonio's research on nurses as absolutely central to the larger interdisciplinary histories of institutions, clinical practice, health care policy, and women's care work and Dr. Fairman’s research on the history of 20th Century health care and the role of nurse practitioners in the evolution of health care make them both ideal additions to The College. Please join me in congratulating these two historians and scientists on this prestigious appointment to The College of Physicians.