Norman Rose, D.O.’63, FACOS, FICS, was honored in 2015 by the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) with its highest award, the Orel F. Martin Medal, as a symbol of his outstanding career as an osteopathic surgeon, educator and leader. He is the academic director of the general surgery residency that he started at Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami, FL.
Nominees for the medal must be in or retired from surgical practice and have been certified by a board recognized by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or the American Board of Medical Specialties. A press release issued by ACOS stated that Rose’s “dedication to the education of future osteopathic physicians and health care providers has played a major role in his life and career and continues to this day.”
He has served as chair of the department of surgery at DMU and at Nova Southeastern University, actively teaching since 1967. Currently serving as clinical professor of surgery at Nova Southeastern University and adjunct professor of specialty medicine at DMU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, he teaches students at both institutions in the classroom and hospital settings.
When Miami Dade College and the state of Florida approached him about starting a physician assistant program for minority and English-second language students, he developed an accredited program and was recognized for this accomplishment with the establishment of the Norman Rose, D.O. PA Scholarship Fund at the college.
Rose’s service in the ACOS has been extensive, having served on the college’s board of governors for 10 years, including as secretary-treasurer and as president in 1991. During his ACOS presidency, his active pursuit of AOA recognition of the unique membership of the specialty colleges led to ACOS representatives becoming voting members of the AOA House of Delegates. While serving as chair of the college’s membership committee, he developed and obtained board approval of the point system used for bestowing the ACOS Fellow designation. He also was the first chair of the ACOS website committee and served in that position for 10 years.
After graduating from DMU, Rose completed his internship and general surgery residency at Des Moines General Hospital, which offered one of the first general surgery residencies in the profession. He then practiced surgery at the hospital and taught at DMU. He served as the hospital’s chief of staff, chair of the department of surgery, chair of numerous committees, and director of the surgical residency program through which he trained more than 40 residents.
During his time in Des Moines, Rose published more than 20 scientific papers, won several grand prizes for scientific exhibits at the Annual Clinical Assembly of Osteopathic Surgeons, and presented more than 100 lectures and papers at state and national meetings. The Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association (IOMA) honored him with its Physician of the Year Award for his achievements in the state, including his service as president of IOMA and as founder and editor of the association’s Hawkeye Osteopathic Journal. In addition, the AOA recognized his service by naming him a “Guardian of the Profession.”
