|
|
office of institutional advancement
News Archive
DR. DALY NAMED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR - AS A SURPRISE!
From Temple Medicine, Fall/Winter 2008
CONTACT: Giselle Zayon, giselle.zayon@temple.edu
215-707-4485
 This year — as a surprise — the association gave its top honor, the Laughlin Alumnus of the Year Award, to Temple University School of Medicine Dean John M. Daly, MD ’73.
An internationally renowned oncologic surgeon, author, researcher and academician, John M. Daly, MD, FACS, FRCPS (Hon. Glasg.) became dean of Temple University School of Medicine in 2002.
He’s done great things for Temple.
Dr. Daly has brought a wealth of experience to Temple — academic, clinical, executive and human. Prior to joining Temple, he was the Lewis Atterbury Stimson professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and New York Presbyterian Hospital’s surgeon-in-chief. Before that, he was the Jonathan E. Rhoads Professor of Surgery and chief of surgical oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as an invited lecturer and visiting professor at Harvard, the Royal Academy of Medicine, and other leading academic medical centers around the globe.
A prolific researcher and author, Dr. Daly has 368 publications to his credit, including dozens of book chapters, and several books, including Surgical Oncology, Contemporary Principles & Practices (Bland, Daly, Karakousis, McGraw-Hill, 2001). He is editor-in-chief of Contemporary Surgery, editor of Current Surgery, and is a past editor and/or current editorial board member of Cancer, Surgery, and a dozen other leading journals. He has served as principal investigator on numerous NIH research grants.
Dr. Daly has been president of numerous organizations, including the Society of Surgical Oncology and the New York Surgical Society. He has served on governance boards of the American Board of Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and two dozen other professional associations.
Dr. Daly’s skills as an administrator complement his in-depth knowledge of medical education. He knows a great deal about the complex business of medicine and is fluent in issues ranging from healthcare financing to public policy and long-range planning.
Over the years, he has received numerous awards for teaching, research and practice, and he has been named in dozens of “best” lists (Best Doctors in Philadelphia, Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors in New York, Top Cancer Doctors in New York City, Best Doctors in New York, The 318 Top Cancer Specialists for Women, etc.).
“Dr. Daly is truly impressive in many regards,” says Dr. Uknis. “And one of his best qualities is his ability to build rapport with everyone he meets.”
As a dean looks to the future, he must hold its people, its history and rich traditions, in high esteem. Temple has that and so much more in John Daly.
How We Pulled it Off...
A surprised Dean Daly |
In the fall of 2007, in anticipation of Dr. Daly’s upcoming 35th anniversary class reunion celebration in 2008, the Awards Committee of the Alumni Board decided to orchestrate a little surprise.
“We conspired to surprise him with the Association’s top honor, the Henry P. and Page M. Laughlin Alumnus of the Year Award,” explains Ronald Rubin, MD’72, Awards Committee Chair and Professor of Medicine, “because we knew he would not have accepted the honor any other way.”
Audrey Uknis, MD, Association President and Professor of Medicine, explains how they pulled it off: “We did what any red-blooded group of fans would do: We fibbed. We told Dr. Daly that Charles Shuman, MD ’43, was going to be our top honoree.”
Dr. Shuman, in fact, was Alumnus of the Year in 1978 – and was in on the ruse, too. He and his wife were seated next to the Dean in the ballroom at the Westin Hotel on November 15, 2008, the evening that the award was presented during Class Reunion weekend, with nearly 400 alumni, friends and guests present.
The script for the evening, which Dean Daly had reviewed to prepare for his role as co-Master of Ceremonies for the evening with Dr. Uknis, included several paragraphs on Dr. Shuman’s admirable career. There was even a plaque on the awards table ready for Dr. Daly to present to Dr. Shuman as Alumnus of the Year. The real plaque and awards script were hidden from Dr. Daly’s view. So far so good. He didn’t seem to suspect a thing.
Five awards were presented prior to the surprise. Dr. Uknis read the citations of each awardee’s accomplishments, accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation projected on two giant screens. The moment had come.
“Tonight's final award, the highest honor the School confers upon its graduates,” she said, “is the Henry Laughlin Alumnus of the Year Award. This recognition goes to a graduate whose contributions to medicine are truly distinguished and exemplary.”
“And guess what, everyone,” she said, “We have a surprise. The award is not going to Charles Shuman of the class of 1943. Announcing Charlie as the winner was a cover up, you see, because the person we really want to honor would have refused the award had we given him the chance, insisting someone else be honored.”
At this point, Dr. Daly looked puzzled as he stood on the riser next to Dr. Uknis. Why had no one told him that a surprise was being orchestrated?
“And this gracious soul,” continued Dr. Uknis, “is an internationally renowned physician, an author, researcher, and teacher. He has served as an invited lecturer and visiting professor at Harvard, the Royal Academy of Medicine, and leading academic medical centers around the globe.”
On the big screens, accompanying these words, were various images of a man at a lectern, at a desk holding a gold pen, on stage at a ceremony – images of Dr. Daly with his head cropped out. Was he beginning to recognize himself?
“With a career like his,” continued Dr. Uknis, “he could have gone anywhere, but instead, six years ago, he decided to come home.”
This, finally, is when Dr. Daly and the entire audience “got” it, because the image of this particular headless man had a big Temple medical school banner in the background.
Shocked and amazed, the audience began to cheer and applaud -- and Dr. Daly covered his face with his hands and turned away for a moment, temporarily overcome.
“And he’s here tonight celebrating his 35th class reunion with the Class of 1973,” said Dr. Uknis. “Yes, we’re talking about our very own Dean, John M. Daly!”
At this point, the ballroom doors were opened and all six of Dr. Daly’s children and their spouses and significant others came in to join the fun. Mrs. Daly, who had been in the ballroom all along, knowing all of this was coming, was finally able to breathe.
From there Dr. Uknis went on to sing the dean’s praises, and Dr. Daly gave some very heartfelt unplanned remarks at the end. The entire audience, which included many of his classmates from the Class of 1973, gave him a standing ovation.
Double congratulations are in order: to the Alumni Board and Daly family for keeping their lips zipped, and to Dr. Daly for so graciously allowing us to “ambush” him with Alumnus of the Year.
By Giselle Zayon
Director, Alumni Affairs
|
|
|
Site Map
