III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 127 

Recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Perelman School of Medicine at 

the University of Pennsylvania. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 27 (legislative day, MARCH 26), 2015 

Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. TOOMEY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Perelman School 

of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Whereas the Perelman School of Medicine, when founded by 

young Philadelphia physician John Morgan in 1765, was 

the first and only medical school in the 13 original colonies; 

Whereas by organizing a medical faculty separate and distinct from the collegiate faculty, the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania effectively created the first university in North America; 

Whereas, in 1766, when Dr. Thomas Bond began giving clinical lectures to the students of the new medical school at 

Pennsylvania Hospital, he conducted the first clinical 

medical teaching in the colonies; 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 127 ATS 

Whereas the founding faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine introduced the 2 important elements in medical education of— 

(1) having a medical school within an institution of 

higher education; and 

(2) emphasizing the need to supplement medical lectures with bedside teaching; 

Whereas, during the Revolutionary War, doctors from the 

University of Pennsylvania served in the Continental 

Army, practicing battlefield medicine and training surgeons; 

Whereas, in the 1870s, the Hospital of the University of 

Pennsylvania became the first teaching hospital built for 

a medical school; 

Whereas the Perelman School of Medicine is responsible for 

many historic discoveries, including— 

(1) the first human blood transfusion in 1795; 

(2) the first x-ray image in 1890; and 

(3) a modified dialysis machine in 1951; 

Whereas, since the 1960s, the Perelman School of Medicine 

has been home to many major medical innovations, including— 

(1) the identification of the ‘‘Philadelphia Chromosome’’, which demonstrated the genetic basis of cancer; 

(2) the development of cognitive psychotherapy; 

(3) pioneering work in transplant surgery; 

(4) the development of intravenous nutrition; 

(5) the development of Retin-A therapy for acne and 

wrinkles; 

(6) the development of a vaccine for pneumococcal 

diseases; 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 127 ATS 

(7) fundamental work on ion channels and signaling; 

(8) gene therapy for ocular disease; and 

(9) T-cell immunotherapy to fight cancer; 

Whereas the Perelman School of Medicine boasts 8 Nobel 

Laureates in Physiology or Medicine and numerous 

Lasker Award winners; 

Whereas alumni of the Perelman School of Medicine include— 

(1) the first president of the American Medical Association; 

(2) a Surgeon General in the Army; and 

(3) members of the House of Representatives and 

the Senate; 

Whereas the Perelman School of Medicine is home to more 

than 1,400 medical and post-doctoral students and more 

than 5,200 faculty and staff; 

Whereas more than 1⁄2 of the students at the Perelman 

School of Medicine pursue additional certificates or dual 

degrees, and most perform community outreach or service; 

Whereas the Perelman School of Medicine houses 28 basic 

science and clinical departments, as well as 24 interdisciplinary centers and institutes; and 

Whereas the Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked 

among the top 5 medical schools in the United States for 

the past 18 years: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 250th anniversary of the 

3 Perelman School of Medicine at the University of 

4 Pennsylvania; 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 127 ATS 

1 (2) commends the faculty, staff, and students 

2 at the Perelman School of Medicine for their contin3 ued hard work and devotion to advancing science 

4 and medicine; and 

5 (3) congratulates the Perelman School of Medi6 cine for its distinguished history and long record of 

7 supporting medical innovation. 

Æ 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS