AHN Saint Vincent celebrates 50th anniversary of its Family Medicine Residency Program

Erie, Pa. (October 24, 2026) - One year after celebrating its 150^th anniversary, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital recognized the 50^th anniversary of its Family Medicine Residency Program with a special event at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Lakeshore Country Club. The event was attended by more than 100 former and current physicians who have participated in the program over the last 50 years.

Since its founding, the program in Erie has trained more than 300 family medicine physicians.

"We are very excited to hold this event in honor of the AHN Saint Vincent Family Medicine Residency Program," said Dr. Timothy Pelkowski, MD, the current program director, a family medicine physician at AHN Saint Vincent, and a former resident. "This program has helped train and prepare physicians for serving their patients in the Northwest Pennsylvania region and beyond for half a century, and we are very proud of all their accomplishments. Reaching this milestone is a profound testament to the enduring dedication of our faculty, our staff, and the generations of physicians who have chosen to train within our halls."

Doctors and staff attending the event heard a keynote address by Jill Owens, MD, a program graduate and a leader in family medicine in her home community of Bradford, Pennsylvania. They also enjoyed an engaging residency history trivia game led by longtime former program director Gary Silko, MD. The event was a great opportunity for former residents to reconnect with colleagues, reminisce about shared experiences, and celebrate the program's enduring legacy.

"For half a century, the AHN Saint Vincent Family Medicine Residency Program has stood as a beacon of excellence and a cornerstone of healthcare in our region," said AHN Saint Vincent President Chris Clark, DO, MHA, a former family residency program faculty member. "Family medicine is the very heart of community healthcare, and for 50 years, we have been immensely proud to shape the compassionate healers who look after our families, our neighbors, and our future. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we not only honor a rich and proud legacy, but we look forward with great excitement to the next half-century of innovation, education, and exceptional patient care."

All proceeds from this event will support the Family Medicine Residency Program.

Family medicine specialists treat all ages through outpatient primary care. Some of our family physicians also provide hospital and urgent care, and obstetric services.

The AHN Saint Vincent Family Medicine Residency program is part of the Graduate Medical Education (GME) opportunities offered by the AHN Medical Education Consortium. Learn more about the AHN GME program at www.ahn.org/health-care-professionals/education/graduate-medical-education/about.

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