Richard T. Jermyn, DO, Named Educator of the Year by the American Osteopathic Foundation

The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) has honored Richard T. Jermyn, DO, with the 2019 AOF W. Douglas Ward, PhD Educator of the Year Award. The award was presented to Dr. Jermyn at the AOF’s annual Honors Gala, held on October 25, in Baltimore.

Dr. Jermyn is a professor and chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) and is the director of Rowan Medicine’s NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute. His additional leadership positions at the medical school include chair of the Admissions Committee and positions on the school’s committees on managed care, clinical trials, and pre-clerkship courses. He also is a consultant and expert witness for the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners.

The Educator of the Year Award is one of the highest honors the AOF bestows each year. It recognizes an osteopathic teacher who continuously displays unwavering dedication to the tenets of osteopathic medicine and a true passion for passing those ideals on to future generations of DOs.

AOF CEO Rita Forden says, “One quote is not enough to highlight the impact Dr. Jermyn’s numerous programs have had, and research will have, on the community in which he treats. He is an incredible beacon within the osteopathic profession, and we can’t wait to see what he has next in store. We know he will continue to shine!”

RowanSOM Dean Dr. Thomas Cavalieri adds that, “Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Jermyn has been an advocate for patients who experience chronic pain, physical or cognitive impairments due to disease or injury, and develops innovative approaches to help them reach their primary functional abilities.” 

Dr. Jermyn describes his best tools in teaching as “humor, safe-space, and open dialogue.” Throughout his career as an osteopathic educator at RowanSOM, Dr. Jermyn has received numerous teaching awards, including the school’s “Master Educator” in 2007 and the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation.

As an educator, Dr. Jermyn breaks new ground for students by exposing them to real-life situations and the difficult roles physicians often must play. He started his career working with HIV-infected patients in both end-of-life care and then disease management during a time when this population began to survive, and brought in medical students to learn under his multidisciplinary approach to care. Over two decades ago, he also developed the country’s first pain management core clerkship to be required at a medical school.

Dr. Jermyn is sought after for his expertise and ability to deliver compassionate care, which has led to him taking leadership positions on many national grant review panels, advisory boards and major committees.

Dr. John R. Gimpel, MEd, President & CEO of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), says that “A hallmark of his career as a teacher, clinician, and admission committee member, has been his advocacy for cultural competency, inclusion, and diversity.”

Dr. Jermyn earned his DO degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in 1992 and remained at PCOM to complete a traditional rotating internship in internal medicine. He then entered a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, graduating in 1996. In addition to his positions at RowanSOM, Dr. Jermyn is the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation division chief at Jefferson Stratford Hospital; and director of rehabilitation at Lions Gate Rehabilitation, in Voorhees.

Committed to research, Dr. Jermyn has received numerous grants from federal and state institutions to conduct clinical trials and other research projects focusing on pain, patient safety around opioids, safe prescribing, neuropathic pain syndromes, HIV patient pain, and non-pharmacological approaches to pain, including osteopathic manipulative medicine. His work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and textbooks.

About Rowan University

Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified national doctoral research institution dedicated to excellence in undergraduate education. It offers bachelor’s through doctoral and professional programs to 19,600 students through its campuses in Glassboro, Camden and Stratford, New Jersey. Home to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and the School of Osteopathic Medicine, it also comprises the William G. Rohrer College of Business; the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering; the colleges of Communication & Creative Arts, Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, Performing Arts, and Science & Mathematics; the schools of Health Professions and Earth & Environment; the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; and a multidisciplinary honors college. Rowan is collaborating with regional leaders to create research and academic programs in health sciences. The University has earned national recognition for innovation; commitment to high-quality, affordable education; and developing public-private partnerships.