History of Microbiology in Philadelphia

James A. Poupard 

Poupard, who was born, educated, and lived all his life in Philadelphia, is currently president of the Pharma Institute of Philadelphia. After obtaining his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, he was supervisor of clinical microbiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, microbiology director of Bryn Mawr Hospital, and associate professor of microbiology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1990 Poupard was named director of clinical microbiology at SmithKline. With over one hundred scientific publications, he is a recognized expert in the area of antiinfectives.

His recent book A History of Microbiology in Philadelpha: 1880 to 2010" takes readers back to 1880s when bacteriology started to become an identifiable discipline of science. During this period, Philadelphia medical students traveled to Europe to learn more about this new specialty and brought this knowledge back to the city. This first generation of bacteriologists established crude laboratories and encouraged lectures in bacteriology to be included in the medical school curriculum.

The luncheon is at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, in the Lenape Room of the University Club.