On April 9, Drexel University and Tower Health signed a memorandum of understanding and announced plans to develop a branch medical school campus of Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, subject to the appropriate accreditation approvals. Tower Health is a strong regional health-care provider, comprising six area hospitals. The branch campus will be near Reading Hospital, Tower's flagship medical center and a site of strong educational and training programs, which has been affiliated with the College of Medicine for many years.

To have a branch campus will expand the footprint of the medical school and address the growing demand for highly trained physicians. This innovative collaboration may also provide a setting for students who come from areas close to Berks County and may wish to have a future practice there. We will also continue to have clinical rotations at Reading for students who are based in Philadelphia.

I am delighted to affirm that our appreciation of, and commitment to, our other regional and academic campuses goes on unabated. We look forward to strengthening our close ongoing relationship with Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in collaboration with their new owner, American Academic Health System. We are working closely together to meet newly designed clinical goals aimed to enhance the delivery of care and the trainee experience at these Philadelphia campuses.

We are also pleased to be engaged in a rewarding affiliation with Crozer-Chester Medical Center, our newest regional medical campus, an organization with a longstanding tradition of excellent undergraduate and graduate medical education. We cherish our ongoing academic relationships with all our affiliates and regional campuses benefiting our medical student education.

I was very happy with the results of our Match, on March 16. More than half of our graduates will be in the tri-state area: 72 students matched to hospitals in Pennsylvania, 38 in New York and 22 in New Jersey. (You'll find more numbers and a picture further on in this newsletter.)

It is my hope that increasing numbers of students will choose not only to remain in Pennsylvania, but to match at our affiliates. Drexel University College of Medicine is part of the fiber of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. We and our students benefit from the individual character of each clinical site, and we want to contribute to those sites our expertise and that of Drexel's other colleges and schools.

Daniel V. Schidlow, MD
Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean
Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs