During his graduate studies at NYMC he taught anatomy and neuroscience to students. The late Eugene Wenk, Ph.D. ’72, who directed the anatomy course at the time, saw tremendous potential in him and, upon his graduation, offered the newly minted Ph.D. the position of assistant professor and co-director of anatomy.
MAKING A MARK AT NYMC
Matthew A. Pravetz, O.F.M., Ph.D. ’88 Leaves a Legacy in Anatomy and Humanity at NYMC BY LORI PERRAULT
A legend among teachers of gross anatomy, he leaves students on the cusp of their medical careers with his scientific, ethical and philosophical wisdom.
F
or more than three decades, Matthew A. Pravetz, O.F.M., Ph.D. ’88, was one of the first faculty members New York Medical College (NYMC) students encountered during their earliest days on campus. His big smile, soothing voice and calm demeanor made the fledgling students feel at ease as they anxiously embarked on their education. Now after 37 years of service to NYMC, Dr. Pravetz, who held the titles of professor of cell biology
and anatomy, anatomy program director and assistant dean for basic sciences, retired on July 31, 2020, returning to his roots to assume a leadership position in the Order of Friars Minor. He will be fondly remembered by thousands of NYMC graduates as a beloved teacher, counselor and mentor, as well as the one who introduced them to their “first patients.”
THE EARLY YEARS Dr. Pravetz entered the Franciscan Order, founded by St. Francis of Assisi, as a novice in 1964 while continuing his science studies at Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, eventually earning master’s degrees in anatomy, biomedical ethics and cellular physiology. He decided to become a full-fledged priest in the order, and later decided to pursue his passion for teaching and received permission to pursue a Ph.D. full time in 1982.
Dr. Pravetz’ love for teaching students the fine art of the intricacies of the human body was rivaled only by his satisfaction of teaching them compassion and empathy. His impact went beyond just medical students. He was instrumental in the education of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) and speech-language pathology (SLP) students in the School of Health Sciences and Practice and most recently students in the Touro College of Dental Medicine at NYMC. “Dr. Pravetz was instrumental in the design of the anatomy course for speech-language pathology when the program began. He was careful and deliberate in his work to ensure that the course provided the specific content needed for students in medical speech-language pathology,” says Kate Franklin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, associate professor and chair of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology. “Everyone in our department has always appreciated his oversight and ongoing commitment to the education of our students.” His influence went far beyond the anatomy lab and lecture hall as well. He chaired the steering committee of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education for NYMC’s first accreditation and served as chair or co-chair for several accreditation cycles thereafter. He developed and taught the basic sciences component of the Faculty Practice In-Service Seminar Program, a continuing education program for health care providers, moderated the residency panel at the annual Student Physician Awareness Day (SPAD) and served on the School of Medicine (SOM) Admissions Committee and as an interviewer. Dr. Pravetz got to know every new SOM class during the intense gross anatomy course during the first block of medical school. Each year a highlight of the SOM White Coat Ceremony was Dr. Pravetz’ talk “My Child—A Doctor?” While comforting and reassuring the audience of families
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C H I R O N I A N 2020
