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John M. Ferretti, D.O., President and CEO of LECOM, received the Distinguished Citizen Award for 2009 from the French Creek Council, Boy Scouts of America. Pictured, from left, are Kerry Schwab, French Creek Council, BSA President; Michael Visnosky, Chairman of the LECOM Board of Trustees; Dr. Ferretti; and Duane Havard, French Creek Council Scout Executive.

LECOM students who have been Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts include, from left, Rachel Lipner, Andrew Rettew, Paul Renz, Matthew Parry, Jacob Bair, Dustin Stuart and Erin Brennan.

The French Creek Council, Boy Scouts of America proudly announced that the 2009 Distinguished Citizen Award winner is John M. Ferretti, D.O., President and CEO of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Boy Scouts honored Dr. Ferretti for his service to the community through health care and medical education at its Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Bel-Aire Hotel and Conference Center in Erie.

“Dr. Ferretti supports and encourages the medical students of LECOM to achieve excellence in their lives, just as Scouting teaches youths to excel and learn to become better citizens,” said Duane Havard, Scout Executive of the French Creek Council. “The Boy Scouts are very excited to award John with this recognition.”

In accepting the Distinguished Citizen Award, Dr. Ferretti noted that the honor called to mind several key values and principles championed by the Boy Scouts of America and held in common with those taught to students at LECOM. “One of the most important Boy Scout mottos is to ‘Be Prepared,’” he said. “At LECOM, we’ve embraced that point of view and even incorporated it into our marketing brand: ‘Prepare Yourself – For Medicine Above and Beyond.’”

More than 200 current LECOM students have been Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts and 63 young men earned the Scouting Eagle Badge. Four female students earned the Gold Badge as Girl Scouts.

“LECOM has become an integral part of the communities it serves, and its medical and pharmacy students are guided by the same principles and values that have made the Boy Scouts one of the most respected institutions of the past century,” Dr. Ferretti said. “Through our leadership, commitment to community service, focus on preventative care, integrity and professionalism, our achievements mirror those of the young men who treasure Boy Scout principles such as kindness, helpfulness, loyalty, obedience, reverence and bravery.”

Dr. Ferretti has been very active as a medical leader in the Erie community for years, and also serves as president of Millcreek Health Systems, which includes LECOM, Millcreek Community Hospital, Medical Associates of Erie, the Millcreek Geriatric Education and Care Center, and the John M. and Silvia Ferretti Medical Fitness and Wellness Center.

Dr. Ferretti saw a need for physicians at local hospitals and realized that Erie could support a medical college. Behind his leadership, the health system built LECOM into the largest, most innovative and affordable medical college in the country.
Past recipients of this award include Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott, Hamot Medical Center Director John Malone, and Superintendent of Erie Schools Dr. James Barker.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and LECOM School of Pharmacy offer innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine and pharmacy. From campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Bradenton, Florida, LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. Prepare yourself for medicine as your life’s profession.