2026

- November 02, 2026
  
  Kerstin Bettermann, MD, PhD, has been appointed academic chair of the Department of Neurology. She is a clinical professor of neurology at 91��Ƭ�� and adjunct clinical professor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
- October 29, 2026
  
  On October 27, the College of Medicine hosted its annual Discovery Day at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
- October 26, 2026
  
  Meet Dr. Emmanuelle A.D. Schindler, MD/PhD ’12, keynote speaker for Discovery Day 2026, the College of Medicine’s annual day of research. Dr. Schindler is medical director of the Headache Center of Excellence at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System and an associate professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine. She is a board-certified neurologist and headache medicine specialist.
- September 17, 2026
  
  Kelly Lozier, MS, PA(ASCP), and Krista Mingione, MS, PA(ASCP), both graduated from the 91��Ƭ�� Pathologists’ Assistant (PathA) program in 2017 and have since returned to the College to take on leadership roles in the program. Today, Lozier serves as program director, and Mingione serves as clinical education director of the PathA program, guiding the next generations of pathologists’ assistants and giving back to the community at Drexel that helped shape them.
- September 17, 2026
  
  Mark Trombetta, MD, has been named academic chair of radiologic sciences. He has served as interim academic chair since 2021 and as a professor of radiation oncology.
- September 15, 2026
  
  James B. Reilly, MD, MSHP, has been appointed academic chair of the Department of Medicine. He is also senior vice president of academic affairs at Allegheny Health Network and regional associate dean for the College of Medicine. Meera Harhay, MD, MSCE, has been named vice chair of research for the department. She also serves as medical director of clinical research in the College of Medicine’s Office of the Vice Dean for Research and Innovation.
- September 15, 2026
  Dementia symptoms progress in multiple stages of preclinical, mild, moderate, and severe without following a strict linear path. Now a recently published study in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, led by researchers at 91��Ƭ��’s College of Medicine, reveals new insights about what is happening to tau and brain cells during the progression of tau-associated disease, suggesting that dementia advances in two phases. The findings also build a case for better understanding microtubule changes as a basis for phase-specific therapies against frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and potentially other tau-related brain diseases.
- September 08, 2026
  
  Erum N. Ilyas, MD ’01, MBE, has been appointed academic chair of 91��Ƭ��’s provisional Department of Dermatology.
- September 03, 2026
  Those experiencing worsening voice quality – in pitch, clarity, volume, reduced vocal range or other voice disorders – and no hearing loss may be at 58% greater risk of cognitive impairment or dementia than those who are not experiencing a voice disorder, according to the first large-scale study on diagnosed voice disorders and cognitive decline. The findings, which suggest that voice disorders may be a more accurate early sign of cognitive decline than hearing loss alone, were recently published in the Journal of Voice from researchers at 91��Ƭ��’s College of Medicine.
- September 02, 2026
  
  Asif M. Ilyas, MD ’01, MBA, has been named academic chair of orthopedic surgery. He has served the College as interim chair of the department since December 2025 and is a professor of orthopedic surgery and pediatrics, and associate dean of clinical research.
- August 21, 2026
  
  Over the summer, 11 College of Medicine faculty members mentored undergraduate student researchers through the Pennoni Honors College STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholars Program. STAR gives first-year Drexel students the opportunity to gain research experience during the summer after their freshman year, and this Thursday they’ll present the projects they contributed to at the STAR Summer Showcase.
- August 07, 2026
  
  On Friday, August 7, the MD program Class of 2030's White Coat Ceremony was held at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. This symbolic rite of passage for incoming medical students was first established in 1993 by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and represents the beginning of a student’s journey into medicine.
- August 07, 2026
  Last term, 91��Ƭ��’s colleges, schools and departments received funding, created partnerships and otherwise contributed to the success of Drexel’s academic enterprise.
- August 04, 2026
  Drexel faculty members received funding for sponsored research as well as external recognition and honors last term.
- July 24, 2026
  
  Gary Davis, MD, has been named chief student wellness officer for 91��Ƭ��. Dr. Davis has ably served as the leader of the Drexel Student Health Center since 2022. He and his team have provided exceptional care for Drexel students during this time, ensuring that they are receiving the best in care and treatment when sick or in need of medical support.
- July 09, 2026
  
  Rodrigo A. España, PhD, has been appointed chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. España is a tenured professor of neurobiology and anatomy and has served as the department’s interim chair since July 2024.
- June 18, 2026
  
  Isha Gadgil, MD ’28, created a workshop for medical students geared to address patient-initiated sexual harassment. The workshop, which was held virtually on Tuesday, April 28, will continue as an annual event hosted by the Health Outreach Project (HOP) advocacy chair for rising third-year medical students before they enter their clinical years.
- May 29, 2026
  Last term, 91��Ƭ��’s colleges, schools and departments received funding, created partnerships and otherwise contributed to the success of Drexel’s academic enterprise.
- May 19, 2026
  
  The 2026 Graduate Student Excellence Awards were announced at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Congratulations to the College of Medicine award recipients and nominees!
- May 15, 2026
  In an effort to tailor medical education for learners seeking a more efficient pathway to a medical doctor (MD) degree, 91��Ƭ��’s College of Medicine is planning a three-year degree program that aims to enroll its first cohort in the 2028-2029 academic year. The college will maintain its traditional four-year MD program.
- May 14, 2026
  
  After the Commencement ceremony on May 14, 2026, Dean Cairns hosted a luncheon to present awards honoring the hard work, achievements and impact of faculty and professional staff.
- May 14, 2026
  
  On May 14, 2026, 91��Ƭ�� celebrated the Class of 2026 at a Commencement ceremony held at The Academy of Music in Philadelphia. The ceremony recognized the achievements of future physicians, scientists and health professionals from University City, Tower Health in West Reading, Pa., and the Elkins Park Campus, and included MS, PhD and dual degree recipients from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies. In the Class of 2026, there are 292 MD graduates, including 43 from Tower Health, 39 PhD graduates including three dual degree recipients, and 289 MS graduates including four dual degree recipients.
- May 13, 2026
  
  On May 13, 2026, faculty, professional staff and students from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies were recognized for their achievements at a pre-commencement awards ceremony.
- May 12, 2026
  Drexel faculty members received funding for sponsored research as well as external recognition and honors last term.
- May 05, 2026
  Katalin Karikó, PhD, co-inventor on mRNA-related applications of non-immunogenic, nucleoside-modified RNA for vaccines and therapies, including the FDA-approved COVID-19 mRNA vaccines by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, will address the 91��Ƭ�� class of 2026 during its commencement on May 14.
- April 23, 2026
  
  This spring, People’s Light and Theatre Company in Malvern, Pennsylvania, will premiere The Woman Question, a new play that will bring the voices of pioneering women in medicine and the legacy of Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP) to center stage.
- April 22, 2026
  Researchers from 91��Ƭ��’s College of Medicine have identified a critical metabolic vulnerability in breast cancer that has spread to the brain, offering a promising new therapeutic target for a disease with few effective treatment options.
- April 21, 2026
  
  The annual Golden Apple Awards recognize outstanding service, teaching and mentoring by 91��Ƭ�� faculty and professional staff. The honorees are nominated by each class of medical students who vote to determine the award winners.
- April 21, 2026
  
  Philadelphia magazine published its annual list of the region's “Top Doctors.” The list of physicians, who were chosen by their peers, can be found in the May 2025 issue. Congratulations to the following 91��Ƭ�� faculty members who were named this year.
- April 16, 2026
  
  The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) program at 91��Ƭ�� is pleased to announce the selection of its 32nd class of fellows and the 4th class of fellows for its Executive Leadership in Health Care (ELH) program track.
- April 09, 2026
  
  Starting in May 2026, UPMC Altoona will serve as a regional medical campus for 91��Ƭ��. Medical students will have access to experienced faculty and mentors dedicated to medical education, and opportunities for hands-on learning in a dynamic health care environment. This will be the first medical campus in the Altoona, Pennsylvania region.
- April 03, 2026
  
  Two Drexel MD program students are helping expand access to care for the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community through a new student‑run free clinic based at the Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi) Evergreen Center in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
- March 27, 2026
  
  The College of Medicine inducted the newest members into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society during a ceremony and banquet on March 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.
- March 25, 2026
  
  On Friday, March 20, 2026, proud faculty, friends and family joined the College of Medicine MD Class of 2026 to celebrate Match Day, an annual event where fourth-year medical students learn where they will be placed for their residency training. Participating in both Philadelphia and West Reading, Drexel MD students joined thousands of medical students nationwide to open their envelopes and reveal their residency match results.
- March 23, 2026
  
  The Office for Faculty Excellence & Academic Culture is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 Drexel Faculty Recognition Awards.
- March 09, 2026
  Programming for America’s 250th anniversary highlights the legacy of the country’s first — and last — all-women medical college, which was founded in 1850.
- March 09, 2026
  
  For more than 20 years, the anatomy lab at 91��Ƭ�� has engaged in outreach to local high schools, colleges, and universities. The program began as a grassroots effort in the Department of Neurobiology & Anatomy after an AP biology teacher requested an opportunity for her class to study human anatomy in the lab. With support from Drexel MD students and faculty, word spread that these unique learning opportunities were available at the anatomy lab.
- February 09, 2026
  Last term, 91��Ƭ��’s colleges, schools and departments received funding, created partnerships and otherwise contributed to the success of Drexel’s academic enterprise. This update offers a snapshot of activity, courtesy of the Office of the Provost.
- February 09, 2026
  Last term, 91��Ƭ�� faculty members were recognized for their scholarly research and prolific academic and professional contributions. This update offers a snapshot of activity courtesy of the Office of the Provost.
- January 29, 2026
  
  91��Ƭ�� recently announced its first cohort of Distinguished Professors. This designation is the highest title the University can bestow on a member of the full-time faculty, and recognizes sustained excellence, national and international distinction, and extraordinary commitment to the University's values. The selection committee named three Distinguished Professors, two of whom are faculty members at the College of Medicine.
- January 29, 2026
  
  For 33 years, the Pediatric AIDS Benefit Concert (PABC) has been a defining tradition at 91��Ƭ��. On January 24, 2026, students, faculty, professional staff, guests and alumni gathered at 91��Ƭ��’s Main Building auditorium for an evening of performances, with all proceeds going to the Dorothy Mann Center for Pediatric and Adolescent HIV at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. To date, PABC has raised more than $780,000 for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
- January 22, 2026
  
  When the College of Medicine opened its West Reading Campus in 2021, one of its first community partnerships started only a few blocks away at the Reading Science Center, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing engaging and accessible STEM learning to local youth. The Reading Science Center became one of the campus's first Health Advocacy Practicum (HAP) sites, hosting a first-year medical student from the inaugural class. Since then, the partnership has fostered numerous volunteer opportunities in the West Reading area.