250th Celebration Gala for the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine

Celebrating history with the dulcet tones of Harry Connick Jr.

This past Saturday, more than 1200 alumni, faculty, and dignitaries attended the 250th Celebration Gala for the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine — also known as Penn Med — held at the top of the Philadelphia Art Museum steps in the largest tent that’s ever been erected at that location.

It was an evening like no other filled with warm memories, reunions among faculty and alumni, and a concert by Harry Connick Jr., and grand fireworks display to cap-off the evening. The evening began with a cocktail party inside the Art Museum, where guests enjoyed pass hor d’oeuvres and cocktails. At 7:30pm, bagpipes made their way down the grand staircase guiding guests through the front doors and into the tent for dinner and the program, which included honoring a remarkable video called “The First”, which noted many of the remarkable achievements of the University of Pennsylvania’s school of medicine — including being the first medical school in the country. After the gala dinner, guests returned to the Grand Hall of the Art Museum for a dance party, and a VIP meet-and-greet with Connick.

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HughE Dillon covers parties, events and more for Philadelphia magazine’s The Scene. You can follow him on Twitter at @iPhillyChitChat and visit his daily online social diary PhillyChitChat.com.