“Significant,” “historical,” “monumental” - these are just a few of the words used by those who attended or participated in the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s 100^th Anniversary Symposium to describe the event.

Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona, U.S. Surgeon General, addresses the crowd at the Department of Health’s 100th Anniversary Symposium.

In commemoration of the department’s 100-year anniversary, U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona joined Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson, former Pennsylvania Secretaries of Health Robert Zimmerman, M.P.H.; Dr. Arnold Muller; Dr. Leonard Bachman; and Dr. Thomas Georges, Jr. and Senator Vincent Hughes, during the public health symposium, “100-Years of Public Health,” at the Forum Building on Dec. 8, 2005.  The event was also broadcast to field offices across the commonwealth.

“The symposium gave Pennsylvanians the opportunity to learn more about the vital role public health plays in the commonwealth and to celebrate the department’s longevity,” Dr. Johnson said. “It was an honor to have the U.S. Surgeon General, former Health Secretaries and Senator Hughes show their support through participation in this once in a lifetime event.”

Admiral Carmona was welcomed to the stage by a loud round of applause from the crowd of more than a thousand health department employees and members of the public.

He told of his struggles as a child growing up in New York and how he went from a high school drop out to the distinguished position of U.S. Surgeon General and the struggles he now faces in that position.

Dr. Johnson welcomes all Department of Health employees and the general public to the 100th Anniversary Symposium at the Forum.

“Public health is taken for granted,” he said. “The fact of the matter is the greatest advances in quality of life and longevity in the history of man kind have been from public health.”

Following the keynote address from Admiral Carmona, a panel consisting of the former Health Secretaries, and Senator Hughes fielded questions concerning the role of public health in Pennsylvania posed by moderator Arthur Fennell, CN8 news anchor.

In opening statements each of the secretaries expressed their gratitude for being invited back and shared some of their thoughts on the future of public health in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Muller moved the audience when he read aloud, “To Remember Me – I Will Live Forever” by Robert N. Test, a poem he said describes his feelings about the department.

“When I think of the health department I don’t think of bricks and mortar,” he explained. “I think of people.”

Zimmerman, who served as secretary from 1999-2003, said it is those people who keep the Department of Health alive.

“Public health is basically science with compassion, taking action through partnership,” he explained.

Dr. Georges, Jr. hadn’t been back to the department in 35 years. “Those were far different times, far simpler times,” he said of the years, 1967-70, that he served as Health Secretary.

Dr. Bachman, who held the position from 1975-79, agreed that the world has definitely changed and voiced his confidence in the current employees.

Moderator Arthur Fennell of CN8 (far left) introduces Symposium panelists (from left to right) former Secretaries of Health Dr. Thomas Georges, Robert Zimmerman, Dr. Arnold Muller and Dr. Leonard Bachman, and state Senator Vincent J. Hughes.

“I know that you second century Pennsylvania Health Department members face many daunting problems,” he said.  “I believe that you will rise to the occasion of continuing to meet the many challenges of the future.”

Senator Hughes said he was impressed by the panel and honored to be a part of the event.

“The idea of reaching back and bringing these distinguished public servants together in a forum like this, I think is truly significant.”

In closing Dr. Johnson reminded the audience that this is a time to look back on the challenges that the Department of Health has overcome and those the department may face in the future.

“With the leadership of 24 Health Secretaries over the years, we have overcome a century of significant public health challenges – natural and man-made disasters, controlling the spread of deadly infectious diseases, and flu pandemics,” Dr. Johnson said. “This 100^th Anniversary is a time for us to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and consider the direction we want the Department and public health to take in the future.”

To view the symposium log onto http://dhhbgintranet1/