LECOM College of Medicine and School of Pharmacy students graduate together in the college’s first combined commencement.

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Erie, PA – June 12, 2005 – The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) held its first commencement for a combined College of Medicine and School of Pharmacy graduation. LECOM granted 76 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees to the Class of 2005, the first group of students to attend the school of pharmacy and complete the three-year professional degree program.  They joined 180 new Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine from the Class of 2005, the ninth College of Medicine class to earn LECOM degrees. 

The School of Pharmacy charter class became first students at LECOM to experience the innovative, year-round curriculum leading to the completion of the professional program in pharmacy within three years instead of four years. This allows graduates to enter the job market one year earlier than other pharmacy school programs.  All of the 76 graduates have accepted new jobs. The most, 54, will go into Community Pharmacy for the major pharmacy stores, while three will work for independent pharmacies, ten have taken Hospital/Clinical Pharmacy positions, one in a Long-term Care facility, one will pursue an additional health care degree and seven have accepted pharmacy residency positions with hospitals where they will continue training. 

LECOM held this historic commencement at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, PA, on Sunday, June 12.

Pennsylvania Representative John M. Perzel, the 134^th Speaker of the House gave the commencement address. In April 2003, Perzel was sworn into office as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House in Harrisburg, where Governor Ed Rendell speaks highly of him.  In an interview with the Associated Press, Governor Rendell said Perzel “is still the most effective person in this [Capitol] building at bringing opposite sides together.” 

Perzel received his undergraduate degree from Troy State University in Alabama in 1975. After graduation, Perzel returned to his career in restaurant management in Philadelphia.  Here is where he first tried his hand in elected politics and lost his first try for the House in 1976, but won strongly in 1978.  Perzel currently resides in Philadelphia, very closely to where he grew up, with his wife Sheryl and his four sons. 

The 180 College of Medicine graduates will continue their medical training through internship and residency programs at hospitals throughout the country.