With Appreciation, Thank You

June 2026 | Vol. 70, No. 2
By Ted Eisenberg, DO, PCOM '76

On Jan. 1, 1985, I began my practice as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon like many young physicians – with determination, optimism, and very few tangible assets. My wife was pregnant with our first child, and the responsibility to provide for my growing family was immediate and real. We made ends meet, though it was far from easy. I didn’t have an office of my own. What I did have was the extraordinary generosity of osteopathic colleagues. Five established PCOM physicians in the Philadelphia area – Drs. Laurence Belkoff, James Kantor, Daniel Wisely, Nicholas Pedano, and Dominic Bontempo, Sr. – opened their offices and shared their secretarial staff at no cost, telling me I could pay rent when I was able. With hospital privileges in Norristown, Langhorne, and Northeast Philadelphia, and the unwavering support of fellow D.O.s, I was given the opportunity to build a practice, serve my community, and begin making a difference – then and now. I’ve endeavored to pay this generosity forward through my academic teachings to students, residents, colleagues, and by offering free skin cancer screenings to the community.