Wilkes University Archives is seeking a Federal work-study student who is interested in working Fall 2025 through Spring 2026 on a collection focusing on the Hahnemann-Wilkes medical program.
This collection consists of institutional records and photographs that document the history of the Hahnemann–Wilkes Medical Program.
The Hahnemann–Wilkes Medical Program was established in Fall 1972 and was spearheaded by Joseph Dipalma, Dean at Hahnemann, Dr. Wilbur Oaks, Professor at Hahnemann Medical College, Dr. Ralph Rozelle, the Wilkes College Graduate Division Chairman, Eugene S. Farley, 1st President of Wilkes College, Chancellor of Wilkes College, Dr. Francis J. Michelini, 2nd President of Wilkes College, and officials of the General Electric Corporation.
These members developed an affiliation agreement between Wilkes College and Hahnemann Medical College to hold the first two years of the program at Wilkes College, the next two years at Hahnemann Medical College, and the following two years within a network of cooperating Wilkes-Barre hospitals and under the training of Hahnemann personnel. Students in this medical program received their degrees in six years, compared to eight years, which reduced the cost of medical education and enabled more physicians to enter Hahnemann and Wilkes Barre healthcare systems. The medical program was a huge success between the years of 1972-1982 with the last students receiving their bachelors in May, 1985.
These materials need to be arranged and processed in order to create a finding aid for researchers. Additionally once the finding aid is complete and the collection is officially arranged, I will require the student to write a blog post highlighting items within the collection that document the history of the medical program we used to have here.
This collection would be ideal for an Honors Pharmacy, Nursing, or History student who is interested in Wilkes institutional history.
Please reach out to suzanna.calev@wilkes.edu for more information regarding in-person hours and questions you may have about the project. Please include “Wilkes-Hahnemann project” in the subject line and send me an updated resume and a brief summary of what interests you about the project.