Happy Fourth of July: Celebrating the Good We Do
July 3, 2025
Dear Penn Medicine colleagues,
In the summer of 1776, delegates from thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to do something extraordinary: establish a new nation’s independence. During the Second Continental Congress, five leaders were chosen to put into words the shared convictions that asserted the self-evident truths of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin served as editor.
Well before he helped frame our freedoms, Franklin – ever inventive and enterprising – founded some of the country’s earliest institutions devoted to medicine and education. Among his contributions is Pennsylvania Hospital, America’s first hospital, and now one of the seven hospitals that make up Penn Medicine. He also played a key role in establishing the University of Pennsylvania.
From these roots, Penn Medicine has grown into a leading force in academic medicine, extending across three states and uniting care, discovery, and education through a seamlessly connected system that spans hospitals, outpatient facilities, home care, laboratories, classrooms, and communities.
This reach allows us to meet more patients where they are and uphold our commitment to improving health in all its forms. Whether nurturing wellness, fostering healing, advancing knowledge, or training the next generation of innovators in science and medicine, our efforts help people live fully and move forward with independence and strength.
Franklin wrote, “The noblest question in the world is, ‘What good may I do in it?’” Through your dedication every day, you answer that challenge with unparalleled skill and heartfelt compassion. Enjoy the holiday and take pride in being a part of a legacy that continues to give people the dignity they deserve, the opportunity to thrive, and the care they need to live their healthiest lives.
Sincerely,
Happy Fourth of July: Celebrating the Good We Do
