Named for the parable that Pennsylvania Hospital founders Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond chose to represent on the hospital’s original seal, PAH’s Good Samaritan — or “Good Sam” — Award is presented annually to an individual with an of exemplary record of leadership and has demonstrated their support for the hospital with a spirit of generosity, volunteerism, and caring. Earlier this month, I was honored to present the 2019 Good Sam Award to UPHS CEO Ralph W. Muller, who will soon be stepping down after 17 years of transformational leadership.
Ralph’s dedication to community development and service, improving access to excellent patient care, and expanding Penn Medicine’s reach, services, and facilities has ensured the health system’s continued growth. Over my five-year tenure, I have seen Ralph’s leadership imprint upon the entirety of the health system’s footprint, including PAH. With his support, we have continued to provide patients with superior to care, an exceptional care experience, and outcomes consistent with the Penn Medicine brand — all delivered in a community hospital-like setting.
As our nation’s first hospital, PAH has a value that has survived for centuries and that continues to thrive today. The success of many of our recent projects — the creation of a comprehensive Spine Center, the relocation of the Crisis Response Center, the development of a downtown Cardiac Rehab Program, and our continued efforts to balance modern clinical spaces with our historic buildings — is also a result of Ralph’s commitment to investing in infrastructure and leading the way as the health care field and patients’ needs continue to change.
Ralph’s innovative thinking, collaborative mindset, and commitment to civic engagement have established him as a great leader and coach. PAH is proud to continue building on the legacy of our Good Sam honoree by continuing our deep tradition of high quality, compassionate patient care, ground-breaking research, and community outreach.