On March 27, 2024, Rowan University announced that Dr. Richard Jermyn was named the Dean of the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. Last year, Dr. Jermyn was the interim Dean of Rowan-Virtua SOM.
“I felt that it allowed me to really have an opportunity to take an assessment to see where we could really take this school in the future,” said Dr. Jermyn.
Jermyn graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992 and has been in the medical field for over 31 years.
Dr. Jermyn plans to continue the mission of giving back and helping underrepresented communities.
“To treat the underserved, get into underrepresented communities, train doctors, soon PAs, working with interprofessional nursing programs, but really concentrating on being present and available to underserved communities and to train these physicians for the future that will get back to those communities and be part of it,” said Dr. Jermyn.
His other goal is to grow Rowan-Virtua SOM and expand into other locations.
“We’re building a physician’s assistance program in our Sewell location. We’re really talking about interprofessional training and education, not only with PAs but with nurses. Eventually, I just see working together under virtual health college, developing physical therapy, [and] occupational therapy. There’s just no end to where we can go in the future” said Dr. Jermyn.
An institute that Dr. Jermyn founded is the Neuromusculoskeletal Institute. He wanted to focus on pain management, disability, and HIV care.
“You put the patient in the center. This is what I believe we should do. And then all of us work around the patient. To make the outcomes better for that. So that was why I started the NMI,” said Dr. Jermyn.
Dr. Jermyn’s passion and work ethic were some of the factors in determining his position in this new role. Dr. Jermyn also inspires people that are around him, with one of his most commendable qualities being his leadership, according to doctors who have worked with him.
“You know, when they talk about people being a visionary, I would say that’s him. He’s a great idea person,” said Dr. Deanna Janora, a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor.
In order for Dr. Jermyn to take on a position like this, he really had to believe in himself.
“Don’t listen to other people. Know who you are, trust in yourself. You’re going to do some great stuff. Don’t let other people judge you just because of where you grew up, maybe how you talk or even how you look. Just don’t, don’t let people do that to you. And if you trust in who you are, then you’re going to do great stuff,” said Dr. Jermyn.
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