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
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