Philadelphia Is A Metropolis Of Life Sciences Attractions And Venues

PHILADELPHIA …October 2008…Situated in the heart of the country’s third-largest life sciences industry cluster, the Greater Philadelphia region is home to a plethora of medical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, higher education, research and venture capital entities that can provide access to a deep pool of talent and partners for life sciences meetings and conventions. Given its prime location, it is no surprise that life sciences-related conventions total more than 50% of all meetings held in Philadelphia each year.



The Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, is the liaison between Philadelphia’s extensive life sciences community and the many professional societies and associations that may consider the region for future meetings and conventions. The region is fast becoming known as “America’s Life Sciences Meetings Destination.”



Many factors contribute to Philadelphia being a top choice for life sciences meeting planners. As a city steeped in medical history, Philadelphia is the birthplace of American medicine and home to the nation’s first medical school, first children’s hospital, first college of pharmacy, first medical library and first hospital. Philadelphia is also home to many medical and science attractions, as well as a variety of venues to hold medical meetings and conventions, that educate and entertain visitors and meeting attendees.



“The wealth of Philadelphia’s medical history, its museums, attractions, universities, and research institutions are great resources for life sciences meeting and convention planners to enhance program content and take advantage of the region’s life sciences leaders and experts,” said Bonnie Grant, executive director of GPLSC. “Venues include medical artifacts, antiques, art masterpieces, and noteworthy architecture relative to science. They offer fascinating collections of specimens, tools and memorabilia that will interest any medical professional.” Grant noted that the work of the industry affects everyone and offers provocative and passionate discussion opportunities. “The life sciences continuum attracts great minds. We want these minds to meet in Philadelphia.”




Following is an in-depth list of life science-related venues and attractions in the Greater Philadelphia region that meeting attendees can visit. In addition to being great places to visit, many listed here make perfect venues to host off-site events. For more information on any of these attractions, or to book a life sciences meeting or convention in Philadelphia, call 1-800-CALL-PHL or visit www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel.



The Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia was founded in 1812 "for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning." The unique aspect of this statement of purpose lies in the word "useful," a mandate the Academy has continuously redefined through research and education that reflects the societal needs of the times.

Classic expeditions to explore the western wilderness, such as those led by Stephen Long and Ferdinand Hayden, were organized at the Academy, which now contains more than 17,000,000 specimens.

Among the permanent exhibits on display are: Butterflies, Dinosaur Hall, Dioramas, Library Treasures, Live Animal Center, Captain Cook’s Cannon, Egyptian Mummies, and Marveling at Mollusks.

In 1948, long before water pollution and environmental degradation became topics of public concern, the Academy established the Environmental Research Division. This marked the beginning of a broadened research orientation for the Academy, which included applied research in aquatic ecosystems, as well as the traditional systematics research - discovering and cataloguing organisms.




Meeting Venue: The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215/299-1000. For more information, visit

www.ansp.org



The Franklin Institute

Founded in honor of Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is one of the oldest and premier centers of science education and development in the United States. The Franklin comprises three centers: The Science Center, The Franklin Center, and The Center for Innovation and Science Learning. It also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.



On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and William H. Keating founded The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. The museum began in 1825 in its original building at 15 South Seventh Street (now the site of the Atwater Kent Museum) and moved into its current home on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway 100 years later, in 1942. Over the years, many famous scientists have demonstrated groundbreaking new technology at the Franklin, including wireless telegraphy in 1897 and the world’s first public demonstration of an all-electronic television system.




Meeting Venue: The Franklin Institute is located at 222 North 20th Street, 215/448-1200, and offers ample space for meetings and conventions with its conference center, rooftop deck and theaters. The Conference Theater can accommodate 200, with the conference center available for 100. The Rooftop Deck has space for 150 for a cocktail reception or 120 for seated dinner. Visitwww2.fi.edu/rentals/conference.htm for more information. For more information about The Franklin, visit www2.fi.edu/



The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the nation’s first pediatric hospital, was founded in 1855, during the turbulent and unsanitary times of the Industrial Revolution. The

hospital took child health care out of the home and into a controlled environment for the first time.



CHOP was instrumental in creating the model of family-centered care that has become the standard in pediatric hospitals. The Connelly Resource Center for Families serves as a national model and gives families access to health care information with a specially designed teaching environment to train families with medical skills.




CHOP is a visual metaphor for the caring that takes place throughout the facility. Based upon the theory that natural light positively influences mood, every patient room in the hospital faces natural light. In addition, the Colket Atrium is full of interactive games, hands-on exhibits and comforting design elements.



CHOP is located at 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, 215/590-1000. www.chop.edu



Pennsylvania Hospital

Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, is the first hospital in the nation. The grounds, taking up two square city blocks, are marked with historic plaques and maps that guide visitors through the hospital’s more than 250-year history.



The original cornerstone – with Franklin’s inscription dedicating the hospital that “was piously founded for the relief of the sick and miserable” – remains on the Pine East Building, the hospital’s oldest structure.




The hospital features artifacts from early American medicine; a gallery of oil portraits of hospital pioneers, such as Thomas Sully’s painting of Dr. Benjamin Rush; a Nursing Museum, with a collection of nursing uniforms, hats, pins and memorabilia; and fine antiques.



The historic Medical Library, the first and largest in the United States, houses 13,000 volumes, and also includes several rare books printed before 1501 during the infancy of printing press technology. The library's collection is historically significant because it was assembled at a time when Philadelphia was recognized as the center for medicine and science in the United States. The Surgical Amphitheatre, the country’s oldest amphitheatre, provides insight into how surgery was performed under the natural light from the domed window above the circular room. The hospital’s Physic Garden features plants and herbs used in early American medicine.



On display in the Gallery Pavilion is one of Philadelphia’s most impressive paintings and the centerpiece of the hospital’s valuable art collection, Christ Healing the Sick in the Temple, a dramatic 160-square-foot work by Benjamin West.



Meeting Venue: This historic setting offers an authentic atmosphere for a reception, dinner or meeting. The Great Court, bracketed by twin staircases that ascend from a floor laid with the original 19th-century Portuguese tile, makes an unforgettable backdrop for any event. The Pennsylvania Hospital auditorium, which seats 180, and the McClelland Conference Center which accommodates more than 100 guests, are two other meeting venue options on-site. Pennsylvania Hospital is located at 800 Spruce Street, 215/829-3000. www.pennhealth.com



The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and Mütter Museum


The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the oldest honorary medical academy in the country, offers a unique window into the past, present and future of medicine. Visitors can explore a world-class medical museum with exhibits more compelling than any medical fiction, discover a gallery exhibition on emerging infectious diseases explaining how Philadelphians responded to three devastating epidemics, or enjoy a stroll through the College's intriguing medicinal plant garden.



The College of Physicians houses the Mütter Museum, a much-talked about collection that began with 2,000 specimens donated to the college in 1858 by Dr. Thomas Mütter. Mütter was the first doctor in the United States that sought to teach medical students using real specimens. Since then, the museum has become a repository for medical history. The Museum's collections include more than 20,000 objects, including approximately 900 fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens; 10,000+ medical instruments and apparati, primarily dating between 1750 and the present; 400 anatomical and pathological models in plaster, wax, paper mache and plastic; and 200 items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians.



Meeting Venue: Located in an elegant late Georgian-style building, The College of Physicians is a perfect place for health care meetings, lectures and special events. From the marble foyer and grand staircase to the elegantly appointed ballroom, the college offers luxury and grace for any event. The medical museum and garden are also available for private functions. The various spaces of the college can accommodate groups of 16 – 400.



The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is located at 19 South 22nd Street, 215/563-3103. www.collphyphil.org




Physick House

A tour of the Physick House provides a glimpse of how the country’s most distinguished surgeon lived, and offers a history of his contributions to medicine. The tour takes you through several rooms, including his bedroom and the memorial museum, where some of Dr. Physick’s handmade instruments are on display, such as the set of saws he used for amputations.



The surgical amphitheatre at Pennsylvania Hospital was the setting of many of the operations performed by Dr. Philip Syng Physick, known as the “Father of American Surgery,” whose home is open to the public and available for private receptions.



Meeting Venue: This historic house museum provides an atmosphere of early 19th-century elegance and charm. The stately hall, elegant front parlor, drawing room and walled garden, offer settings of exceptional allure with the capacity to accommodate 50 seated guests or 75 standing for cocktail parties. Larger parties, up to 100 guests, may be accommodated when using the garden.



Physick House is located at 321 South 4th Street, 215/925-7866.

www.philalandmarks.org




The Shoe Museum at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine

Originally founded in 1976 as an attraction for the national Bicentennial celebration, the Shoe Museum is located at Temple University’s School of Podiatric Medicine and combines both the cultural and medical worlds in offering visitors a rare glimpse into the world of shoes and feet. The museum contains shoes of historic significance as well as those of famous politicians, artists and athletes. It also features the footwear collection of Dr. H. Augustus Wilson, a 19th-century Philadelphia orthopedist, on loan from the Mütter Museum. See the collection of tiny “lily shoes,” used in the ancient Chinese custom of binding a girl’s foot, a circus giant's size 18 shoes or compare your feet to those of famous athletes Joe Frazier, Julius Erving, Reggie Jackson or Andre Agassi. Museum tours are free but visitors must call in advance to schedule an appointment.



The Shoe Museum is located at 8th and Race streets, 215/625-5243. www.temple.edu/podiatry



Philadelphia Shriners Hospital

Founded in 1922 and part of the Shriners Hospitals for Children network, Philadelphia Shriners Hospital is one of 18 orthopedic hospitals throughout North America that provide completely free medical care to children under the age of 18 with orthopedic problems, severe burns and spinal cord injuries. The Philadelphia hospital adjoins an academic medical facility, the Temple University Children’s Hospital.



Philadelphia Shriners Hospital is located at 3551 North Broad Street, 215/430-4000. www.shrinershq.org




University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

In 1821, 68 Philadelphia apothecaries met in Carpenters' Hall to establish improved scientific standards and to train more competent apprentices and students. They organized and incorporated the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the nation’s oldest college of pharmacy in North America. The college later adapted the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) name in recognition of the broad spectrum of new health and science programs introduced by the institution.



The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia is located at 600 South 43rd Street, 215/596-8800. www.usip.edu



The University is home to the Marvin Samson Center for the History of Pharmacy, a 1,000-square foot museum that tells of the importance of pharmacy throughout history. In fact, the murals gracing its entrance depict the history of pharmacy from Greco-Roman times to the 20th century. Inside the museum, visitors are treated visually and artistically to changing temporary exhibitions from a vast collection of more than 10,000 pharmaceutical and medical science objects that date back more than five centuries. The collection includes mortars and pestles, apothecary jars, patent medicines and other rare items.

The Marvin Samson Center for the History of Pharmacy is located at 600 South 43rd Street, 215/596-8721. www.usip.edu/museum




University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine

Philadelphia is home to the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, the nation’s first medical school, founded in 1765. The University of Pennsylvania’s Biopond, originally created to grow herbs and plants used for medicinal purposes, is a 100-year-old, two-acre nature center still used today tucked into the campus.



The John Morgan building, one of the oldest buildings on the campus, is the centerpiece of the University’s School of Medicine. Morgan, the buildings namesake, founded the first medical department in the American colonies and was the chief physician of the Continental Army. The building is home to some of the city's most treasured medical artwork, including Thomas Eakins’ The Agnew Clinic. Completed in 1889, this large canvas depicts an operation in progress, involving the removal of a tumor from a woman’s breast.



In 1874, the School of Medicine established the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the nation’s first hospital expressly designed for teaching.



Meeting Venue: The University of Pennsylvania’s ivy-covered campus is home to more than a dozen options sophisticated venues that can accommodate 50 to 650 guests.




The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine is located at 3450 Hamilton Walk, 215/898-8001. www.med.upenn.edu/



Jefferson Medical College

From its modest beginnings near Independence Hall, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University is today one of the largest private medical schools in the

United States and houses another of the city’s most prized paintings, Thomas Eakins’ The Gross Clinic. The original, is considered the finest work by one of America’s premier realist painters, is now housed alternately between at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. A reproduction of this work is on display at Jefferson Alumni Hall’s Eakins Gallery.



Eakins studied anatomy at Jefferson Medical College and later became chief demonstrator of artistic anatomy at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.



Jefferson Medical College is located at 1025 Walnut Street, 215/955-6000. www.jefferson.edu/jmc

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The PCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has departments dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.