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Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty of
School of Medicine

The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine recently formed an association for its senior and emeritus faculty (Almanac February 24, 2004) and we believe this new group may be the first such association in the country specifically for medical school faculty. The new Association of Senior and Emeritus Faculty of the School of Medicine (ASEF) was officially established at its inaugural event on March 3 in the Austrian Auditorium (with the venerable Robert Austrian himself in attendance). 

The inaugural event was well-received by its 75-plus attendees (that's the number of participants, not necessarily their age!) and generated a high degree of enthusiasm for the new group. ASEF Council member Howard Goldfine, one of the prime movers in the formation of the group, summed up its mission, "As part of the Faculty 2000 initiative within the School of Medicine, the working group on Senior Faculty urged the administration to establish an organization devoted to the needs of senior and emeritus faculty so that they could be better informed about retirement and continue to feel connected to the school and the University after retirement."

Much of the work of the Association will be carried out by members of its four standing committees, which will focus on Data Collection, Education, Service and Social Activities.  In addition to emeriti, ASEF is open to any member of the standing or associated faculty in the School of Medicine who is 55 years of age or older, and the registration period for acceptance of founding members has been extended until April 15. The current founding membership list includes 216 (and counting) senior and emeritus faculty. Organizers of ASEF are very excited about the interest the group has generated thus far (they have even been contacted by the University to serve as a model for what Penn can achieve in this area on a larger, University-wide scale), and are happy to be contacted for further information. To be added to the list of founding members, contact Lena Wetherbee at (215) 898-4621 or lenaw@mail.med.upenn.edu.

One of the primary goals of the new organization is to demystify school and University policies on retirement options and benefits. With this goal in mind, ASEF's next event will take place on Tuesday, May 25 from 3-5 p.m. in the Class of '62 Auditorium, John Morgan Building. Hilary Lopez, senior benefit specialist, Penn Human Resources,  and Victoria Mulhern, executive director, Faculty Affairs and Professional Development in the School of Medicine, will offer an overview of FIAP (Faculty Income Allowance Plan), the Reduction in Duties policy, medical benefits after retirement, and other issues related to faculty retirement in the School of Medicine. They will also field audience questions on these topics. Please come join us.

President, Dr. John J. Mikuta 

President Elect, Dr. Marvin E. Steinberg  

Treasurer/Secretary, Dr. Marilyn E. Hess 

Council Members:

Committee Chairs:

--Dr. John J. Mikuta, ASEF President