11 minute read
Editorial
by TEAM
RiChaRD h. DaFFneR, mD, FaCR
Osher
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Physicians, like all healthcare professionals are required to take continuing education courses to stay relevant with the stateof-the-art practices in their respective specialties as well as to maintain licensure. But what happens after they retire and are no longer practicing? Does the love of learning stop? To an extent, that depends on the individual. I have always had a love of learning. I often told my students and residents that the day I stop learning is the day I’m put in the ground for eternity.
Pittsburgh is blessed with many colleges and universities that offer a variety of learning opportunities to its large senior population. Two of the major institutions, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) are affiliated with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (Osher, OLLI). Each of these programs provide an array of noncredit courses and activities specifically developed for adults aged 50 and older who are interested in learning simply for the joy of learning. I briefly mentioned these programs in a previous Editorial1 .
The programs are named for Bernard Osher, a native of Maine, who became a successful banker and entrepreneur. Mr. Osher, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College, managed the family hardware and plumbing supply business before moving to work for Oppenheimer & Co. in New York. From there, he moved to San Francisco, where he was a founder of Golden West Financial and a founding director of one of its subsidiaries, World Savings, which became the second largest savings institution in the United States. In 1970, he bought Butterfield & Butterfield, a San Francisco auction house, and sold it to eBay in 1990. World Savings merged with the Wachovia Corporation
in 2006 (which was acquired by Wells Fargo in 2008). As a result of these acquisitions, mergers, and his own business sense, Mr. Osher became a very wealthy man.
In 1977, he established the Bernard Osher Foundation, the purpose of which was to support higher education and the arts. It is estimated that 80% of the foundation’s funds go to education programs and 17% are designated for the arts. In 2007, Bloomberg Businessweek magazine listed Mr. Osher as the 11th most generous philanthropist in the US, citing the $805 million he had given to arts, educational, and social services up to that time. His wife Barbro is Executive Director of the Foundation.
Bernard Osher was aware of the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning at the University of San Francisco and approached the Senior Program in his home state at the University of Southern Maine (USM) in 2001 to offer them a grant to expand their noncredit programs for older adults. USM renamed their program that became the first Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. From there, other colleges and universities applied for development grants. Today there are 123 OLLI programs throughout the country that are supported by million-dollar grants from the Osher Foundation. In 2004 Osher established the National Resource Center at USM to support the OLLI programs. In 2014 the center was moved to Northwestern University’s downtown campus in Chicago.
Osher in Pittsburgh
In 1974, the College of General Studies at Pitt first offered older adults the opportunity to audit undergraduate courses through a program called “College Over Sixty”. This name subsequently changed to the “Third Age Learning Community”. Beginning in 2004, a series of grants from the Bernard Osher Foundation allowed a successful OLLI program to be established at the University of Pittsburgh.
CMU established the Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) in 1992 with an initial membership of 300. By 2007 ALL had grown to over 1,200 members and received a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation. This prompted joining forces with OLLI and a name change ensued. At the present time Osher at CMU has just over 2,000 members. The growth of the program combined with limited campus facilities has prompted the need for a new physical home. Plans are in place to occupy newly renovated classroom space in Cyert Hall on the CMU campus once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and on-campus classes can resume.
Only a small portion of the seniors in the Greater Pittsburgh area have access to the courses offered by Osher at CMU and OLLI at Pitt. To address this situation, in August of 2019 the Executive Director and the President of Osher at CMU began a series of meetings with Chatham University’s President. These meetings led to an agreement for the CMU Osher program to begin partnering with Chatham University to offer courses at their Eden Hall Campus in Gibsonia, PA. The rationale for this move was the result of a membership analysis that revealed that as many as a quarter of the CMU members lived either in the North Hills or places where the Eden Hall Campus is more easily accessible than the CMU campus in Oakland.
The programs at both universities offer a variety of classes in three broad categories: Academic, Exploration, and Enjoyment. Academic classes make up the majority of the offerings. These are like undergraduate college courses with an instructor or study leader lecturing most of the time. Exploration courses are more “hands on” or may be an academic topic taught through interactive group discussion. Enjoyment courses are spent with the learners discussing a topic, practicing a skill, or engaged in group sharing or discussion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all classes at Pitt and CMU were held on Zoom®. The CMU Osher program is planning on offering some classes on-campus and some on Zoom® .
The catalogs at OLLI at Pitt categorize their offerings in the following areas: Art History and Architecture; Film, Music, and Theater; Fitness, Health & Self-Interests; History, Classics, and Philosophy; Language Studies; Literature and Creative Writing; Math and Economics; Political, Social Sciences and Society; Religious Studies; Science, Technology, and Medicine; and Visual and Performing Arts. All programs are held on various parts of the Pitt Oakland campus.
Osher at CMU offers courses in Arts and Humanities (Art, Cinema / Film, Literature, and Music); Business
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From Page 9 and Commerce (Economics, Law); Editorial Learning by Doing (Art, Crafts / Hobbies, Dance / Exercise, Finance, Rear End Gastropub & Garage, Insurance, Games, Language, Self399 Butler St., Etna Improvement, Wellness, and Writing); For a culinary cross-country road Science (Architecture, Environment, trip, stop in this converted auto service Life Science, and Medical); and Social station for a taste of roadside delights Science (Contemporary Topics / from coast to coast from Chef Anthony Sociology, History, Pittsburgh, Politics Tripi. Twenty draft beers and fun / Government, Religion / Philosophy, cocktails to boot. and Travel. The majority of the Adda Bazaar, 725 Penn Ave., programs are on the CMU campus. Downtown However, a number are at remote The newest of Adda Coffee & Tea sites, such as the Mellon Institute, the House’s multiple downtown cafes. Adda Pittsburgh Aviary, various theaters and is the term for the long Bengali tradition dance studios, and Friends Meeting of stimulating intellectual discourse with House in Oakland. Once in-person friends over tea and coffee. Here’s your classes resume, Osher will have a chance to try the art of Adda, with a satellite program at the Eden Hall selection of fine teas and coffees. campus of Chatham University. Three Bakery Square delights:
With two excellent programs AVP, Bakery Square, 6425 Penn available, how does one decide which Ave., East Liberty program to join? The instructors for Fans of Big Burrito’s Alta Via pizza both programs are, for the most part, in Fox Chapel can venture to Bakery retired professionals in their areas Square to try the casual California style of expertise. Most held previous Italian cuisine of its cousin, AVP. Enjoy academic appointments. The Pitt seasonal vegetable-forward dishes program is under the auspices of the as well as pizzas and sandwiches for College of General Studies. At the lunch and dinner seven days a week. present time, OLLI at Pitt has open täkō, Bakery Square, 6425 Penn membership because of adequate Ave., East Liberty space for classes. Faculty members Love the downtown Richard receive a small honorarium. Annual DeShantz jewel of a restaurant called membership (three consecutive terms) täkō, but can’t get a reservation in the is $225. Single term membership is crowded space? Come enjoy its vast $125. Catalogs listing current courses Bakery Square outpost, complete with are available on-line. 5000 square feet of space and both The Osher at CMU program is a indoor and outdoor dining. welcome guest of Carnegie Mellon. Galley – Bakery Square, 6425
Penn Ave., East Liberty
Galley – Bakery Square is the When on campus classes were in person, they had two classrooms as well as office space in Wein Hall. latest branch of the Galley restaurant As a result of space limitations, incubator concept, featuring the same membership is limited to 2,000, and formula as its sister sites Federal Galley there is a waiting list to join. Osher at on the North Side and the Strip District CMU is in the process of completing location. Four emerging chefs are their fundraising efforts to build out selected to open their own restaurant their new space in Cyert Hall. They within the space, with 12-18 months to now have two lounges, contiguous win over an audience and establish their office space, and adjustable and brand. You can try a little of everything expandable classroom space, as well from all four restaurants during the as meeting rooms. The new space in same meal – heaven for foodies. Cyert Hall is expected to be open in Tupelo Honey, 100 West Station time for the second half of the Winter Square Drive, South Side 2022 term. Also, many of the members Craving fried green tomatoes, prefer using the Zoom® format which buttermilk biscuits, shrimp and grits will continue even after in person and banana pudding – and oh yes, classes resume. Annual membership fried chicken and waffles? Tupelo is currently $100. In addition, there is Honey Café will open this fall in Station a $60 registration fee for each of the Square to remedy that, in style. three terms. Once registered for a Con Alma Downtown, 613 Penn term, a member may attend as many Ave., Downtown courses as they like. Faculty receive The new jewel of the Downtown honoraria and their parking expenses Cultural District features insanely good are reimbursed. Catalogs listing current Miami/Latin/Caribbean cuisine along courses are available online. with live jazz.
I have been a member of Osher at Gaucho Parrilla Argentina, 146 CMU since 2015. I am a Study Leader Sixth St., Downtown for five courses. Three, “History of The resident jewel of the Downtown Medical Imaging”, “Med-Mal 101”, and Cultural District dazzles with an “First Aid: You are the First Responder” incredible array of steaks and wood fit in with my medical background. fired meats with a variety of sauces However, as Monty Python often said, and accompaniments. Takeout and “And now, for something completely dine-in available. different,” I have added two history Wild Child, 372 Butler St., Etna courses, “Ancient Historians,” and The brainchild of Chef Jamilka “History’s Villains.” These courses Borges, Wild Child emphasizes coastal resulted from my lifelong interest in and island cuisine and is sure to delight.
Mount Oliver Bodega, 225 Brownsville Road, Mt. Oliver
history. I have also been faculty at OLLI at Pitt, as have many of the Study Chef Kevin Sousa’s new project will Leaders from CMU. I find that teaching combine a wine shop, bar and pizzeria in these programs is a rewarding in the former Kullman’s Bakery space. experience. Unlike teaching medical Sustainable, biodynamic and organic students, residents, and fellows, wines from around the world will be the learners in Osher are a mature featured along with a down to earth, audience, who are highly motivated rustic menu. Nonalcoholic wines and to learn (otherwise, they wouldn’t cocktails also will be showcased. be there).
G’s On Liberty, 5104 Liberty Ave., Learning shouldn’t end when one Bloomfield retires. I encourage you to visit the G’s turns former Alexander’s Italian websites of each of these excellent Bistro into a seasonal scratch kitchen programs to see what they offer. with creative food and cocktails. Regarding the CMU program, I Coming in the fall. recommend applying before anticipated And finally … retirement because of the waiting list. Chengdu Gourmet, McKnight (I waited nearly two years before being Road, Ross Township admitted.) You won’t be disappointed.
Chengdu Gourmet (the beloved James Beard-nominated Squirrel Hill Reference: hole-in-the-wall Sichuan restaurant that regularly inspires pilgrimages from all over Western PA) is planning an outpost on McKnight Road at the site of 1. Daffner RH. You can’t go home again. ACMS Bulletin, October 2021, 282 – 284. the former Oriental Market, in the plaza next to Red Lobster. This will offer a much larger dining space – 6,000 square feet – and an expanded dining menu. Something to look forward to in early 2022. Enjoy, and be safe. Dr.Daffner is a retired radiologist, who practiced at Allegheny General Hospital for over 30 years. He is Emeritus Clinical Professor of Radiology at Temple University School of Medicine and is the Dr. Paranjpe is an ophthalmologist author of 9 textbooks. and medical editor of the ACMS Bulletin. She can be reached at The opinion expressed in this column is that of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the reshma_paranjpe@hotmail.com.
