17
COM Outlook . Fall 2012
Faculty Focus
On July 11, NSU-COM and the
osteopathic profession lost a beloved
colleague and friend when Arthur
Snyder, D.O., passed away following
a prolonged illness.
After graduating from Philadel-
phia College of Osteopathic Medicine
(
PCOM) in 1944, Dr. Snyder opened
a private pediatric practice in Phila-
delphia. Over the next decade, in
addition to maintaining his private
practice, he established a free clinic in
a rundown area of the city to treat sick
and impoverished children. The clinic,
which existed until 1955 when Dr.
Snyder relocated to Florida, became a
major success, thanks primarily to Dr.
Snyder’s ability to persuade pediatric
specialists to volunteer their time and
treat the ailing children.
After relocating to Miami in 1955,
Dr. Snyder spent the next 26 years es-
tablishing a reputation as a respected
South Florida pediatrician before join-
ing forces with old friend and former
PCOM classmate Morton Terry, D.O.,
FACOI, the founder of NSU’s Health
Professions Division. In 1981, Dr. Sny-
der joined the faculty of Southeastern
College of Osteopathic Medicine (the
precursor to NSU-COM), serving as
assistant professor in the Department
of Osteopathic Principles and Practice.
In 1984, Dr. Snyder was promoted
to the position of chair and professor
within the OPP department, where he
taught the nuances of OMM to several
In Memoriam: Dr. Arthur Snyder
thousand students. In October 1999,
Dr. Snyder received the college’s ulti-
mate tribute when he was designated
as a professor emeritus for his lifelong
dedication to the community, his stu-
dents, and the osteopathic profession.
Four years later, another major honor
came his way when he received the
2003
NSU-COM Alumni Association
Living Tribute Award.
After 25 years as an NSU-COM
faculty member—and more than six
decades working in the osteopathic
profession―Dr. Snyder officially
retired from the college on February 1,
2006.
Fortunately, his rich osteopathic
legacy lives on in his son Samuel Sny-
der, D.O., FACP, FACOI, FASN, who
serves as chair of the college’s Depart-
ment of Internal Medicine.
Without question, the profession
and its proponents are deeply indebt-
ed to Dr. Snyder for his innumerable
contributions to past and current gen-
erations of osteopathic practitioners.
Dr. James Howell Honored for Exemplary Service
Throughout his exemplary career,
James T. Howell, M.D., M.P.H., profes-
sor of public health and rural medicine,
assistant dean of professional relations,
and chair of the Department of Rural
Medicine, has focused on improving the
well-being of Palm Beach County resi-
dents, especially those living in the rural
western communities of the Glades.
Because of his commitment to the
citizens of Palm Beach County, the
Health Care District of Palm Beach
County’s Board of Commissioners
recognized Dr. Howell on August 8 for
his eight years of volunteer service
and leadership to the Glades region as
a member of the board that oversees
the district’s hospital─Lakeside Medi-
cal Center (formerly known as Glades
General Hospital).
Dr. Howell began serving on the Glades
General Hospital board in March 2004
and continued that service on the Glades
Rural Area Support board, which governs
Lakeside Medical Center. For the past two
years, Dr. Howell served as chair of the
Glades Rural Area Support board and con-
tinues to volunteer his time and talents to
the Health Care District’s
Finance Committee.
His unwavering dedica-
tion to the Glades region
began in 1969 when he
served as a Palm Beach
County public health
resident. As his career pro-
gressed, Dr. Howell went
on to become director of
the Palm Beach County
Health Department and
later served as secretary of the Florida De-
partment of Health and division director for
the Agency for Health Care Administration.
In addition to his Glades honor, Dr.
Howell was quoted in the July 25 edition
of
The Miami Herald
in an article entitled
“
Jackson Health System Becomes Center
for Tuberculosis Cases.”
Pictured (from left) are Ronald J. Wiewora, M.D., M.P.H.,
Sandra Chamblee, Stephen Coffman, Dr. James Howell,
Benjamin Frank, Esq., and Juan C. Cocuy, CPA.
