Letters: Medical college likes East Falls' prognosis

We were very pleased to see the March 2 article about East Falls, "Ripe for a revival." As the writer pointed out, East Falls is the home of the old Medical College of Pennsylvania, site of the world's first medical college for women (Woman's Medical College). Today, the proud legacy of WMC/MCP lives on in East Falls at Drexel University College of Medicine, where our campus on Queen Lane is thriving.

With more than 1,000 medical students, Drexel University College of Medicine has the largest medical student enrollment of any private medical school in the nation. Many of those students and members of our faculty and staff live, shop and dine in East Falls, contributing to the neighborhood's economic vitality. We are honored to be a part of this wonderful community's rich history and look forward to a bright future.

Richard V. Homan, M.D.

Senior vice president for health affairs and Annenberg dean

Barbara Schindler, M.D.

Vice dean for educational

and academic affairs

Drexel University College of Medicine

Philadelphia

In his March 3 commentary, "Follow growth, not achievement," Ted Hershberg recommends a solution for poor educational outcomes that few politicians dare utter: Hold teachers accountable for their results just as we do practitioners of any other profession. Then, almost as an afterthought, he adds that we should increase state funding to public schools by 28 percent.

Rewarding the public education establishment for failure, as this increase would do, is not a prescription for improvement. It only encourages those who are not performing to blame their failings on funding and not on the poor teaching that Hershberg suggests is the real problem. Better than increasing funding would be advising teachers that if there is no improvement, state funding will be directed to institutions, public or private, that get the job done.

Andrew Terhune

Philadelphia

» READ MORE: aterhune@verizon.net

Apparently it's politics as usual in City Hall ("Battle lines over veterans director," Feb. 29). City Council President Anna Verna is still in Street administration mode, and I can't believe Mayor Nutter is letting her get away with it.

First, she ignored the unanimous recommendations of Council's Veterans Advisory Commission (then why have one?) and hired a person who not only doesn't meet the criteria required in the job description, but also has zero experience in veterans affairs! Then she eliminated the only position that may have been useful to former City Commissioner Edgar Howard - that of assistant director - and piles that position's salary onto the director's.

I'm so exasperated. To hell with veterans and what's best for the city. It's all about personal gain and favoritism. It makes me want to pack my bags, and I just might.

Deborah J. Kane

Philadelphia

Thank you for the March 3 editorial "Who, not what, you know." Unfortunately, the appointment of the unqualified Edgar Howard is just business as usual in Philadelphia.

We will never get rid of the unfair, politically motivated (we won't even mention the nepotism) appointments until we get rid of all of political hacks - especially on City Council. When will we ever learn?

Claire Donohue

Philadelphia

» READ MORE: cpdono@aol.com

I can't believe it. With all the publicity about drug-resistant infections, known as MRSA, a hospital in the area still doesn't seem to require staff to wear gloves while examining patients!

I opened The Inquirer's Health and Science section Monday and saw photos of three Chester County Hospital nurses interacting/examining patients without gloves on. Holy cow!

Eleanor Balsley

Galloway, N.J.