College of Science and Technology
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2009 Gallery of Success Inductees

The College would like to congratulate the 2009-2010 Gallery of Success awardees, chosen for their outstanding accomplishments in the science and technology fields.

Inductees
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	Paul G. Curcillo II, MD (BA ’84, Biology)
	James Guare (BA ’77, MA ’83, Chemistry)

Paul G. Curcillo II, MD (BA ’84, Bio)

Paul G. Curcillo II, MD earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Temple in 1984 and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989. A leader in the field of laparoscopy— surgery through small incisions —Curcillo developed and performed the world’s first single port access (SPA™) gallbladder surgery when he successfully removed a woman’s gallbladder through a single incision in the patient’s belly button in 2007. The procedure is one of a string of surgical advancements pioneered by Curcillo and his wife, Stephanie King, MD, that reduce the number of incisions in laparoscopic surgeries and improve patient outcomes. He has presented, lectured, trained and developed the procedures with colleagues and surgeons throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Curcillo is currently the Vice Chairman of Surgery and Director of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery at the Drexel University College of Medicine and holds appointments as Associate Professor of Surgery as well as Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is the past-president of the American College of Surgeons - Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter and a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Breast and Prostate Health. Curcillo is also a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and a number of other national societies.

Part of a “Temple family,” Curcillo is the second of three brothers to graduate from Temple University. His aunt graduated from Temple as an undergraduate as well as from the School of Medicine. Curcillo completed his medical training at Jefferson Medical College and has maintained a surgical practice in the Philadelphia area.

Biology professor Shepherd Roberts and late chemistry professor Daniel Swern, both of whom he considered “unbelievable” science teachers and role models, played key roles in Curcillo’s education at Temple and in his subsequent career. Curcillo believes the foundation formed during his time at Temple University was crucial in paving the way for his future endeavors. He remains involved with Temple, serving on the College of Science and Technology’s Board of Visitors and as President of its Alumni Association.

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James Guare (BA ’77, MA ’83, Chem)

James P. Guare earned his Bachelor of Arts degree and his Master of Arts degree in chemistry at Temple University before beginning a career as a medicinal chemist at Merck & Co., Inc. He was one of the first synthetic chemists to work on protease inhibitors for the treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), playing a major role in the discovery of Crixivan. Much more powerful than prior HIV drugs, Crixivan’s effectiveness against the virus was the breakthrough that transformed HIV infection from a disease that brought certain death into a manageable condition. The drug, as part of a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) drug cocktail therapy regimen, has helped save millions of lives.

Guare has coauthored over 38 scientific publications and holds 12 patents. His work on Crixivan has earned him many honors and awards. He and four of his colleagues received the National Inventor of the Year Award in 1997, the American Chemical Society Award for Creative Invention in 1998, and the European Inventor of the Year Award in 2007. Guare continued his work on HIV treatments during his career at Merck and was recognized by the company as a Key Contributor to Isentress, the first integrase inhibitor approved by the FDA and an even more effective HIV drug. He received the Technological Achievement in Organic Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society in 2002.

Guare credits his graduate advisor, chemistry professor Grant Krow, with instilling in him the belief that chemists can have a real impact on people’s lives. A class with late chemistry professor Daniel Swern first sparked his interest in organic chemistry and former professor Edgar Howard Jr. introduced him to research as an undergraduate.
Now retired, Guare and his wife Debbie have three children and live in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

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