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Penn Medicine is a giant in the world of medical research and care. 

In recent years, its researchers invented the mRNA technology that powers COVID-19 vaccines, engineered CAR T-cell therapies to treat leukemia and other cancers, and developed the first gene therapy to reverse a type of hereditary blindness.

Those innovations are the latest in a long line of discoveries and advances dating back to 1765. That’s when Dr. John Morgan proposed that his alma mater — called The College of Philadelphia at the time — follow the example of institutions he’d observed in Europe and create its own medical program.

The college agreed to appoint Morgan as professor of medicine and Dr. William Shippen as professor of anatomy and surgery, establishing the first medical school in the American colonies.

Dorothy Leung, chief of staff to the dean at the Perelman School of Medicine, left, and artist Jenn Procacci stood next to a poster of a statue Procacci designed celebrating the school’s history. (Meir Rinde/Billy Penn)

“In 1768, 10 students received their medical diplomas,” said Dorothy Leung, chief of staff to the school’s dean. “To think now we have over 25,000 Perelman School of Medicine alumni, working and living globally, taking their talents and their dedication to medicine and research all over.”

A festival celebrating the school’s founding and its many achievements since then will be held this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pereleman School, 3400 Civic Center Blvd. 

It’s the latest event in the “52 Weeks of Firsts” — a year-long series of “Firstivals” the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee is putting on to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday and the city’s central role in U.S. history.

Celebrating Penn Medicine breakthroughs

Every Saturday in 2026, the free events offer storytelling, performances, exhibits, souvenir giveaways and activities for kids and adults to celebrate innovations or “firsts” that originated in Philadelphia.

Recent Firstivals have commemorated the invention of the matchbook, the nation’s first flower show, and the first authentic Chinatown Friendship Gate, among other firsts.  

Leung said this Saturday’s event will “showcase a lot of the breakthroughs that come out from Penn Medicine, and ways in which we work with our community as well.” Other advances by the school’s researchers over the years have included the first x-ray image, discovery of cancer’s genetic basis, and development of SCUBA gear and CAT scans.

Artist Jenn Procacci decorated a number 1 statue for this Saturday’s Firstival event celebrating the establishment of the nation’s first medical school in Philadelphia in 1765. (Photo by Gustavo Garcia/Colibrí Workshop)

Festival-goers can also check out artwork commissioned for the event. For each Firstival, an artist decorates a 5-foot foam statue, in the shape of a ‘1,’ with images related to that week’s theme. 

For her statue, artist Jenn Procacci included historical images of Dr. John Morgan and the former Library and Surgeons Hall building on 5th Street, which was part of the school in its first few decades.

“Penn medical school is known for really being a leader in innovation,” she said. “So I show a DNA helix there and some hands cradling what symbolizes ‘the light of knowledge,’ which [Morgan] spoke of in his 1765 address called ‘A discourse upon the institution of medical schools in America.’ I really was seeking to fuse the past with the present for this ‘first.”

First medical school, stadium and circus performance coming up

Here’s the complete list of other firsts being highlighted this year, along with the upcoming Saturday Firstival dates and locations.

Completed

Week 1:  Successful balloon flight in America (1793)

Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)

Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)

Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)

Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)

Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)

Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)

Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)

Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)

Week 10: Flower Show (1829)

Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)

Week 12: Matchbook (1892)

Upcoming

• The first medical school in America (1765)
March 28, Perelman School of Medicine, 3400 Civic Center Blvd.

• Stadium in America (1895)
April 4, Franklin Field, 235 S. 33rd St.

• Circus performance in America (1793)
April 11, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, 6452 Greene St.

• Botanical garden (1728)
April 18, Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd.

• Postmaster (1737)
April 25, Franklin Court, 322 Market St.

• American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
May 2, Ensemble Arts Philly, 300 S. Broad St.

• Mother’s Day (1908)
May 9, Historic St. George’s Museum & Archives, 326 New St.

• Hospital in America (1751)
May 16, Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce St.

• World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
May 23, Please Touch Museum, 4231 Avenue of the Republic

• Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
May 30, Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.

• American flag (1777)
June 6, Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St.

• U.S. Army (1775)
June 13, Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. 3rd St.

• Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
June 20, Philly Pride Visitor Center, Lombard St. and S. 12th St.

• Paper maker in America (1690)
June 27, Rittenhouse Town, 6034 Wissahickon Ave.

• Bank of the United States (1791)
July 4, First Bank of the United States, 120 S. 3rd St.

• Organized baseball team (1831)
July 11 (location TBD)

• Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
July 18, Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St. 

• American art school (1805)
July 25, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 118-128 N. Broad St.

• Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Aug. 1, at Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

• Zoo in America (1874)
Aug. 8, Philadelphia Zoo, 3400 W. Girard Ave.

• U.S. Mint (1793)
Aug. 15 (location TBD)

• Selfie (1839)
Aug. 22, Love Park, 1501 John F Kennedy Blvd.

• Slinky (1943)
Aug. 29, Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

• Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.

• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.

• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall

• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.

• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.

• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.

• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.

• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.

• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.

• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Benjamin Franklin Parkway

• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.

• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.

• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.

• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.

• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.

• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.

• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.