University of New England

Jack Ketchum:
Pioneer of Osteopathic Medicine Medal Citation

Presented June 2, 2001 at UNECOM commencement

Once in a great while, there emerges a unique relationship between individual and institution that seems somehow to be destined. Such is the case with Jack Ketchum, the University of New England and its College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In the winter of 1975, Ketchum, hired by the trustees of St. Francis College to help assess the enrollment-troubled college's potential for  survival, had an exchange with a neighbor that would ultimately lead to the creation of the medical school and the university. At the same time St. Francis College was seeking direction, a group of physicians had organized the New England Foundation for Osteopathic Medicine in order to create an osteopathic medical school in New England.
 
There are several versions of this story, but the gist of it is that on that frosty winter day, one of the foundation's leading members, William Bergen, D.O., invited Ketchum onto his property. The physician and the financial consultant owned adjacent farms near Kennebunk, Maine. While talking, they began to share their activities and suddenly saw mutually beneficial possibilities of collaboration. They arranged for representatives from the College Board and from the NEFOM Board to meet.

Eventually, the two boards worked out an agreement and in 1978 Jack Kechum presided over the creation of Maine's only independent university, the University of New England, and Maine's only medical school and New England's only osteopathic medical school, the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Over the next decade as UNE's first president, Jack Ketchum directed on of the most remarkable turnarounds in the history of American education. Under his leadership, the medical school prospered and the University established highly successful undergraduate degree programs in the health sciences. These sweeping curriculum changes, combined with his savvy management and financial acumen put UNE on a path to become one of the premier universities in the region for the education of physicians and other health care professions.

For his significant contributions to our college and our profession, we honor Jack Ketchum today with the Pioneer of Osteopathic Medicine Medal.