by Jennifer Kowalewski

Peter Johnson, Ph.D., credits the “support and opportunities” he has had for keeping him at the college the past three decades. In recognition of his service and dedication, Wednesday, May 3, Johnson — and five others — will receive the first ever 30-year service awards from OU-COM.

“In the mid-seventies, the university was in a rather precarious state economically and student recruitment was way down,” says Johnson, professor of biochemistry. “It took a lot of courage and foresight by President Ping to establish OU-COM during these times. We all owe him a great debt of gratitude.”

Johnson will receive the award along with Charles G. Atkins, Ph.D.; Fredrick C. Hagerman, Ph.D.; Robert S. Hikida, Ph.D.; Joseph Jollick, Ph.D.; and William S. Romoser, Ph.D., at the Recognition and Service Awards Program, which combines the Service Awards and Most Valuable Players programs given by the Office of Human Resources. Normally, the Service Awards was held in February and the MVP Day in May. Beth Maxon, director of the human resources, says the first-time, revamped program will be a celebration of all OU-COM employees at the same time. Breakfast will be served during the 9 to 11 a.m. ceremony on the Bricks in Irvine.

“Not only is there an economic benefit had by combining the programs,” says Maxon, “faculty from our Centers for Research and Education sites can travel more easily to this combined event than to the Service Awards held in winter quarter.” Service awards are given to employees who have worked for OU-COM for five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and, now, 30 years.

“We’re very excited about giving our first 30-year service awards,” Maxon says.

MVP awards are given to the classified employees to honor their service to the school. Just as before, Maxon says, OU-COM will provide a token of appreciation to these employees for their invaluable service. As in the past, individual departments were encouraged to honor their employees as well.

“Tomorrow it will give us great pleasure to thank those for their contributions to the success of the college over the past years,” Maxon says.

All faculty and staff are invited to attend to join the festivities. Hikida will receive a 30-year service award, although he says he has been with the university for 37 years and only joined the college in the 1990s. He taught undergraduates and graduates in biological sciences before joining the college.

“I marvel at how many current physicians I have been involved with teaching, and am most pleased and proud of their accomplishments,” Hikida says. “It is an awesome thought to know that we have been involved in producing so many of these fine physicians. The most dramatic change was in the curriculum and how we deliver it.  The shift from a traditional teacher-centered approach to a more self-learning approach not only changed the way the students learn, but it also affected student-faculty interaction.”

“We have a high-quality faculty that has molded the medical curriculum into a mature, quality program,” he says. “Some of these ‘pioneers’ are Johnson, John Howell, Jollick and Joe Eastman.  We were fortunate to have such great faculty colleagues who would devote themselves to this medical school.”

Many of those celebrating their 30 years will retire or already have. Johnson will leave at the end of the next year, with plans to move to North Carolina. He will return to the college to teach at least one quarter a year for three years following his “retirement.”

“OU-COM has grown tremendously, and we are now one of the most respected osteopathic schools in terms of teaching and research,” Johnson says.

Tomorrow is a day that all OU-COMers can, with the 30-year honorees, share in that success.