CCOM Alumni Class Reunions

This year marked the 59th Annual Ward Perrin Clinical Refresher Course and Class Reunion Weekend for CCOM. Dr. Ward Perrin was truly a legend at CCOM and in the Chicago medical community. He started this course back when osteopathic physicians were not permitted to take allopathic (M.D.) educational courses. Over the years, the program has grown to include many alumni activities for the college. We lost Dr. Perrin several years ago, but we still stay in touch with his wonderful wife, Dorothy. I had the honor of traveling with them on an alumni educational trip to Amsterdam several years ago, and I will always cherish their kindness and their friendship.

This year's event was held at the Wyndham hotel in downtown Chicago. The CCOM Alumni Association Board of Governors meets twice annually, and this group of about 20 alumni are really committed to upholding the values and traditions of their college and helping the current generations of students. The dues to the Alumni Association support student loans and book grants. They also support the "Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow" organization, known as STAT.

This student group facilitates networking between current students and alumni, and a large percentage of CCOM students are active members. Several of them attended the alumni luncheon and class reunions last night. At the class reunions, I had the distinct privilege of inducting the CCO Class of 1956 into the Gold Medallion Club (for all graduates who have celebrated their 50-year anniversary of graduating from the College). Nine of the original 55 members of the class came to the reunion and were recognized.

The class president, Dr. Larry Hoover, told the other reunion classes the story of how the Class of 1956 went on strike during their senior year. They had some grievances with the college administration, which were resolved and the students took their final exams and graduated. Dr. Hoover got choked up when he spoke about how proud their class was to have graduated, and he said, "I hope what we did made a difference to all of the classes of alumni who came after us." He got a standing ovation. It was a very touching moment. It really showed me how important that sense of community is to our alumni, even 50 years after they have graduated.

The Class of 1986 had the largest turnout at the reunion. This class includes a former President of the alumni board as well as a current member of MWU's Board of Trustees. They all had a great time catching up with each other and reminiscing about their days at CCOM.

One of the messages that the alumni shared was that CCOM always has and still does produce great physicians. Even though the school has moved from Hyde Park to Downers Grove, and even though health care has changed over the years, the values of CCOM and the quality of its educational program persist.

It is so wonderful to get to meet and talk with the alumni of all of our colleges. It's a great opportunity to take advantage of when you become a student. The alumni are so committed to their alma mater, since it's the place that they learned their profession and made so many lasting friendships.