remained relevant and a leader in an ever-evolving educa-
tional environment.
Enter Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Pharm.D., M.Sc., FACOFP
dist.
, who became NSU-COM’s commander-in-chief in 1998
and now stands as the most durable dean in the college’s
35-year existence. During his 16-year tenure as NSU-COM’s
passionate and charismatic leader, Dr. Silvagni has overseen
a sustained period of growth and achievement that even he
couldn’t have foreseen when he first arrived on campus to
become the college’s fourth dean.
“Each dean who preceded me made permanent contri-
butions to the profession and to the professional evolution
of our educational institution,” Dr. Silvagni stated. “The
growth of the college with Arnold Melnick, D.O. (1980-
1989), the national integration with Joseph Namey, D.O.
(1989-1991), and the development of an interdisciplinary
ith all the deserved excitement surrounding
Nova Southeastern University’s 50
th
anniver-
sary commemoration, it would be easy to
overlook an important numerical milestone related to the
College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is celebrating its
35
th
anniversary this year.
The college was established in 1979, thanks to the
efforts of a trailblazing D.O. named Morton Terry, whose
predominant objective was to construct a curriculum that
was both comprehensive and cutting-edge. As the 1990s
drew to a close, however, technological advances were
having a significant impact on the way medical schools
structured their curricula. Similarly, because the osteo-
pathic profession continued to gain acceptance within
the allopathic (M.D.) community and grow in popularity
with the general public, NSU-COM needed to ensure it
W
NSU-COM
aT
35
By Scott Colton, B.A., APR
COM/HPD Director of
Medical Communications
and Public Relations
23
COM Outlook . Spring 2014
Dr. Silvagni Reflects
on the College’s
Across-the-
Board Ascension
