Our History

A Legacy of Learning and Leadership

The story of Temple University’s medical school is rooted in bold thinking and a commitment to serving communities through medicine. From the start, it was built on the belief that talent—not privilege—should define who can study medicine. That vision grew into a school where students from all walks of life prepare to serve their communities, where faculty and researchers push the boundaries of science, and where care for patients remains at the center of everything we do.

The Lewis Katz School of Medicine carries this legacy forward, connecting our history of access and innovation with the future of medicine. Learn more about the people, ideas, and breakthroughs that set the foundation for the institution we are today.

Temple Medical Center
Source: City of Philadelphia, Department of Records

1884

Temple University was founded in 1884 as a night school.

20:35

There were 20 faculty members & 35 students during the school's first year.

1st

Coeducational medical school in Pennsylvania.

Temple University Medical School History: Milestones That Shaped Katz

Our history is built on bold ideas: education for all, medicine that serves the community, and research that advances health everywhere. From a handful of students in 1901 to a thriving school of medicine named for Lewis Katz, we’ve grown alongside the city of Philadelphia while never losing sight of our purpose.

1884: Temple University is Born

Rev. Russell H. Conwell founded Temple College in 1884 to make higher education accessible to anyone with talent and drive, regardless of means. Rooted in his mission of opportunity, Temple quickly grew from evening classes in a church basement into a thriving urban university with a bold social purpose.

1901: A New Medical School Opens

On September 16, 1901, Temple opened its medical school, the first coeducational medical college in Pennsylvania. Classes met at night and on weekends, offering working-class Philadelphians the chance to pursue medicine. The first faculty numbered 20 and the first class included 35 students.

1904–1908: Breaking Barriers

By 1904, Temple celebrated its first graduates, Frederick C. Lehman and Frank E. Watkins. Two years later, Sara Allen and Mary E. Shepard became the first women to earn Temple MDs. In 1908, Agnes Berry Montier was the first African American woman to graduate from our medical school. She practiced in Philadelphia until her death in 1961.

1907–1930: Making a Modern School

To meet new licensure requirements, Temple ended its night medical school program in 1907 and became a day school. In 1929, Samaritan Hospital was renamed Temple University Hospital, and in 1930 the medical school moved into a new building, expanding its class size to 100 under the leadership of Dean William N. Parkinson.

1928–1940s: Creating Partnerships

In 1928, Temple formed its first hospital affiliation with the Jewish Hospital of Philadelphia, now Albert Einstein Medical Center. These partnerships expanded student training and fueled research growth, as Temple faculty gained national recognition for teaching, clinical innovation, and discovery.

1965: Becoming State-Related

In 1965, the Pennsylvania Legislature designated Temple University School of Medicine a state-related institution. Joining the Commonwealth System of Higher Education secured new funding, expanded public accountability, and strengthened Temple’s role in serving Pennsylvania communities.

1980s–2000s: A Time of Innovation

Throughout the late 20th century, Temple University School of Medicine grew into a hub for medical research, patient care, and education. Faculty pioneered advances in cardiovascular science, neuroscience, and HIV research, while continuing to train diverse classes of physicians committed to community health.

2015: The Lewis Katz School of Medicine

In 2015, the school was officially renamed the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. The new name honors alumnus, trustee, and benefactor Lewis Katz, CST ’63, whose leadership and generosity shaped the school’s mission. Today, Katz carries forward his legacy of access, innovation, and impact.

The Legacy of Lewis Katz

“Recognized, respected, and loved.” That’s how Lewis Katz, CST ’63, described Temple University in his 2014 award-winning commencement address—and it’s how Temple describes him.

A proud Temple graduate, Katz earned his BS in biology in 1963 before graduating first in his law school class at Dickinson School of Law. His career spanned law, sports, media, publishing, and philanthropy, but Temple remained at the center of his life.

By establishing the Katz Foundation, he supported education, medical research, and community programs for more than 25 years—building schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Jewish Community Centers in Camden and beyond. He served on national boards, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The National Constitution Center, and the NBA Board of Governors, while also giving his time and leadership to Temple University Health System and Fox Chase Cancer Center.

In 2014, Temple awarded Katz an honorary doctoral degree, recognizing a lifetime of service. His final gift of $25 million—the largest in Temple’s history—endowed the medical school and its dean’s chair.

The values Lewis Katz embodied—determination, impact, and generosity—are the same values that define Katz-educated physicians, researchers, and medical professionals. In 2015, Temple renamed its medical school the Lewis Katz School of Medicine to honor his vision and legacy.

Pioneers in Medicine

For more than a century, Katz has been shaped by innovators, educators, and leaders whose work left lasting marks on medicine. These individuals advanced science, redefined patient care, and inspired generations of scientists.

W. Wayne Babcock, MD

Surgical Innovator & Author

(1872–1963) Babcock became Chair of Surgery at Temple in 1903 and taught for 45 years. He earned international recognition for pioneering spinal anesthesia, stainless steel sutures, and surgical procedures including the abdominoperipheral proctosigmoidectomy. He also invented instruments such as Babcock’s forceps and sump drain. His textbook, "Principles and Practice of Surgery," remained the leading surgical reference through the 1950s.

Thomas Durant, MD

Master Diagnostician & Educator

(1905–1977) Durant joined the Temple faculty in 1936 and later chaired the Department of Medicine (1956–1966). Known as a consummate diagnostician, he captivated students with his ability to uncover diagnoses through meticulous history-taking and physical exam. He made significant contributions in electrocardiography and cardiovascular physiology. Durant also held national leadership roles, including Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine and President of the American College of Physicians.

Dawn B. Marks, PhD

Innovative Biochemistry Educator

(1937–2000) Marks joined Temple’s Biochemistry faculty in 1968 and served as Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies from 1984 to 1998. During her career, she developed new teaching methods, authored "Review of Biochemistry" and "Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach," and created computer-based learning tools. Her textbooks became staples for medical board prep worldwide.

Waldo E. Nelson, MD

Pediatrician & Author

(1898–1997) Nelson came to Temple in 1940 and chaired the Department of Pediatrics for 24 years. He also served as Director of Philadelphia's St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, bringing it to prominence as a regional referral center. He made major contributions to juvenile diabetes, tuberculosis, and pediatric convalescent care. As longtime editor of the "Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics"—or the “Green Bible”—he shaped pediatric care worldwide.

Sol Sherry, MD

Thrombosis Research Pioneer & Dean

(1916–1993) Sherry revolutionized treatment for acute MI through his revolutionary work in thrombolytic therapy. He served as Chair of Medicine at Temple from 1968 to 1984, founded the Thrombosis Research Center, which now bears his name, and was Dean of the School of Medicine from 1984 to 1986. He also founded the American Heart Association's Council on Thrombosis and the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. His leadership trained a generation of thrombosis experts and influenced global practice in cardiology and hematology.

Catherine L. Bacon

Psychosomatic Medicine Expert

Catherine L. Bacon was an expert in psychosomatic medicine. Her writings included a book about direct analysis in the treatment of mental disorders.

Harry E. Bacon

Colorectal Surgery Leader

Harry E. Bacon graduated from Temple in 1925, and was the first editor of the SKULL yearbook. He was Head of Temple’s Division of Colorectal Surgery from 1942 to 1971, and his contributions to controlling cancer and related problems gained him global recognition.

M. Prince Brigham, MD

Surgeon & Academic Leader

(1923-1980) A native of Alabama, Dr. Brigham graduated from Temple Medical School in 1950 and spent most of his career at his alma mater. After graduation, he served an internship and surgical residency at Temple University Hospital. A member of the Department of Surgery for 22 years, Dr. Brigham was also Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs from 1973 and Acting Dean of the School of Medicine in 1979. In these varied roles, he contributed greatly to Temple's academic excellence.

W. Emory Burnett

Thoracic & Vascular Surgery Pioneer

Burnett was an innovator in thoracic and vascular surgery. In 1938, he performed Philadelphia’s first human pneumonectomy, a landmark operation that advanced surgical possibilities for lung disease. His work cemented Temple’s reputation for surgical excellence.

W. Edward Chamberlain

Radiology Innovator

W. Edward Chamberlain was a radiologist who developed contrast and cine radiological techniques with Temple associates. Their image intensifier in fluoroscopy made the following possible: movie films, television viewing, and three-dimensional effects in X-ray diagnosis.

Agnes Barr Chase

Surgical Illustrator

Agnes Barr Chase, a School of Medicine alumna of the Class of 1909, was also an accomplished artist and illustrator. A graduate of Moore College of Art and Design, she collaborated with her husband, Dr. Theodore L. Chase, in compiling an atlas of surgery. After her death, her husband endowed a surgical research foundation at Temple "in loving and everlasting appreciation."

O. Spurgeon English

Psychiatry Leader & Author

O. Spurgeon English was a renowned psychiatrist who, with Dr. Edward Weiss at Temple, wrote a signal volume on psychosomatic medicine. A distinguished teacher and psychotherapist, he established clinics in child, adult, and family mental health.

Matthew S. Ersner, MD

Otorhinology Chair & Teacher

(Class of 1912) Ersner, a medical alumnus, was longtime Chair of Temple's Department of Otorhinology. A devoted teacher and skillful surgeon, he trained numerous specialists who continued his work.

Temple S. Fay, MD

Neurosurgeon & Innovator

Temple S. Fay was a neurosurgeon who introduced the use of hypothermia in medical and surgical illnesses. He also developed rehabilitation procedures based upon analysis of phylogenetic movements.

Harriet L. Hartley

Professor & Public Health Advocate

Harriet L. Hartley was a Professor of Hygiene and Public Health for 20 years (1924 to 1944). She made major contributions to maternal and child health and environmental sanitation.

John Franklin Huber

Anatomist & Teacher

John Franklin Huber was a respected anatomist, friend, and guide to medical students. He was distinguished for his delineation of the bronchopulmonary segments, the result of research conducted with Chevalier L. Jackson and Charles M. Norris, and for his pioneering use of audiovisual techniques in teaching.

Chevalier Jackson

Laryngology Pioneer

Jackson devoted his career to devising life-saving procedures in laryngology and bronchoesophagology. With his son, Dr. Chevalier L. Jackson, and their co-worker, Dr. Charles M. Norris, he created Temple’s internationally known graduate course on airway and esophageal surgery. His devices and teaching influenced physicians worldwide.

Richard A. Kern

Allergist & Medical Leader

Richard A. Kern was a pioneer allergist, medical leader, and statesman. An expert in military and tropical medicine, he served as Chair of the Department of Medicine, and was a Trustee of Temple University and President of the American College of Physicians.

John A. Kolmer

Preventive Medicine Leader

John A. Kolmer, a national leader in preventive medicine and public health, achieved wide recognition through his research in immunology, serodiagnosis, and chemotherapy.

Leroy W. Krumperman, MD

Anesthesiology Chair

(Class of 1944) Krumperman led Temple’s Department of Anesthesiology from 1950–1975. He was an expert in regional anesthesia and founded the hospital’s first Pain Control Clinic. His leadership helped expand anesthesiology as both a clinical specialty and academic field.

Frank H. Krusen

Founder of Physical Medicine

Krusen originated the field of physical medicine, establishing the nation’s first department in 1929 at Temple University Hospital. Later at the Mayo Clinic, he continued to shape rehabilitation medicine. Temple’s rehabilitation center still bears his name, honoring his pioneering contributions.

John Royal Moore, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

John Royal Moore, an orthopedic surgeon, originated a technique of delayed reduction of fractures and gained wide recognition as both a practitioner and a teacher.

William N. Parkinson, MD

Dean & Medical Educator

(1896–1971) A 1911 graduate of the School of Medicine, Parkinson returned as Dean in 1929 and led for 30 years. He was known for making medical education accessible to talented students from all backgrounds. His leadership elevated Temple’s national standing, and he recruited faculty of international renown.

Victor Robinson

Medical Historian & Author

Victor Robinson was a pioneering medical historian, author, editor and teacher of international stature.

Hugo Roesler

Cardiology & Imaging Pioneer

Hugo Roesler was a Vienna-trained cardiologist/electrocardiographer and author of one of the earliest books on cardiovascular imaging in 1937.

Machteld Elisabeth Sano

Clinical Pathologist

Sano, trained in Belgium, conducted influential research in tissue culture and invented the use of fibrin glue for skin grafting. Her work advanced pathology and surgical techniques alike.

Ernest A. Spiegel, MD

Neurologist & Innovator

Spiegel co-developed stereoencephalotomy, along with Dr. Henry T. Wycis and others, breakthrough procedures to treat pain, tremors, and epilepsy. This work laid the foundation for modern functional neurosurgeries.

Shirley M. Tilghman

Molecular Biologist & University Leader

Tilghman, a Temple alumna and faculty member, became a leading molecular biologist. She conducted groundbreaking research at NIH and Fox Chase Cancer Center before joining Princeton, where in 2001 she became its first female president. Her career exemplifies scientific excellence and leadership.

Sidney Weinhouse

Cancer Biologist

Weinhouse headed the Fels Research Institute of Temple University and edited the Cancer Research journal. Noted for investigations of biochemical mechanisms and properties of cancer cells, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Joseph Wolpe

Psychiatry Innovator

Joseph Wolpe was a Professor of Psychiatry and is considered the "father" of behavioral modification therapy.

Lewis Katz School of Medicine