BRANCA PAUL A

MAJ Paul A Branca was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/15/1989 at the age of 48.3
Philadelphia, PA
Date of Birth 11/22/1940
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by Barry Geller, Gary Roush, deceased search

More detail on this person: A memorial service was to be held this afternoon for Paul A. Branca, M.D., a pediatrician and neonatologist, who died Wednesday. He was 49 and lived in Wynnewood.

Branca had been director of neonatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital since 1974. He also served on the staff as clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

During his tenure Branca was credited with developing a modern intensive care unit. He and his staff innovated programs devoted to the care of premature babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia at the Children's Rehabilitation Hospital. They also developed the first regional extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program in the Greater Philadelphia area for newborns with respiratory problems.

He had served as president of the medical staff at Children's Rehabilitation Hospital and was pediatrician for the Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center for Women. He was an advocate of nurse-midwifery and served as a neonatal consultant for numerous hospitals and birthing centers, including Holy Redeemer Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Fitzgerald Mercy Catholic Medical Center.

In 1984 he received a federal grant to develop a program for the care of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In 1987, he received the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania Achievement Award for this project.

From 1979 to 1981 Branca was medical correspondent for WCAU (Channel 10).

Branca received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University and his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He served his pediatric internship and residency at Children's Hospital.

He was a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics. Branca belonged to the Philadelphia Pediatric Society, the Pennsylvania Pediatric Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Public Health Association and the National Perinatal Association. He was a member of the First International Conference on Infant Psychiatry.

Survivors include his wife, the former Sally Grant; two sons, John and Matthew; a sister, Susan Aubry; two nieces; and his mother, Emily Pezzello Branca.

Funeral services were private.

A memorial service was to be held at 3:30 p.m. today at Jefferson's Herburt Auditorium.

From: Philadelphia Daily News (PA) - Tuesday, March 14, 1989

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024


Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association