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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