Even in his retirement, Allen H. Bar, MD, a professor of Clinical Surgery, continues to prepare medical students for their careers in health care, still teaching both in-person and online classes. Beginning his career at PAH in 1974, officially retiring in July, Bar reflects on his time working in Surgery and teaching future generations of medical professionals.
What achievements are you most proud of during your career?
When PAH had its own surgical residency program, merging with the Perelman School of Medicine’s program in 2004, we had weekly meetings with the students, and we would conduct projects and present cases as a class. I was voted “Teacher of the Year” by the residents and also received a Penn Pearls Teaching Award from the medical students, which recognizes excellence in clinical teaching. Approaching my retirement, I helped launch an enhanced recovery program for surgical units at PAH. We collected data from patients and established ways to reduce length of stay in the hospital and decrease complications and use of opioids post-surgery.
What is one of your favorite memories working at PAH?
Working with people who have become family. I got to meet a lot of staff, both clinical and non-clinical, through playing basketball and softball at the gym or outside of PAH. I also played on Penn’s medical school soccer team for several years in the ‘80s. I had coached my three daughters’ soccer teams, but stopped when they got older. Then one of my students asked if I wanted to join the medical school’s team. It was part of a league with surrounding medical schools and Penn’s graduate programs. A lot of those students rotated with me in the advanced surgery course at PAH.
What advice do you have for future medical students?
Just enjoy what you’re doing. Enjoy every day. Penn’s been wonderful to their students. The students are great, and they’ve been a joy to teach.