Dr. Gerald Falasca, Class of 1975

In Paul VI, Gerald Falasca class of ’75, knew when he was older he wanted to help others in the medical field.  He always saw himself as becoming a surgeon but as time went by he would eventually realize rheumatology was his niche.  In high school Gerald was involved in student government, service as.  freshman class president and senior class president.  Aside from student council, Dr. Falasca also was in the plays, and was the yearbook photographer.  Freshman football and track were also important to Gerald but none were as important to him as being involved in the sciences, which was always one of his favorite things to do in his spare time.  Paul VI brought him many achievements such as being on the National Honor Society, receiving the National Merit Scholarship and being number one in his class for academics. None of these accomplishments would come close to his biggest achievement in high school; meeting his best friend and wife, Coleen (Whitman) class of ’76.
                  
                  
After graduating from Paul VI, Jerry went on to Princeton University where he began a study in Civil Engineering.  While at Princeton, Jerry also got involved with the Princeton Evangelical Fellowship, an on-campus Christian fellowship.  Although his dreams were always to be a doctor, Jerry worked as an engineer for a year before entering The New Jersey  School of Medicine (one of the best kept secret medical schools in New Jersey) from which he graduated in 1984.  Jerry completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Cooper Univeristy Hospital in 1987, followed by subspecialty training in Pheumatology in 1989.  He has now worked for Cooper University Hospital for the past 22 years.  For the past several years, Jerry has made the “Top Docs” list for South Jersey magazine.
                 
Jerry and his wife Coleen married in 1988, two years after they “rediscovered” each other working at Cooper Hospital.  They are the proud parents of four children who range in ages from 16 down to 13.  Jerry will always remember Paul VI and the years he had there.  Paul VI is thrilled to be inducting such a prominent alumni in South Jersey into the first Hall of Fame.
 
“Above all else at Paul VI I am truly grateful for the Catholic Christian foundation underlying the education I received.”
 

 
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