Lt. Col. Barry Gasdek
An Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate is continuing his decades of support to the university and a lifetime of service to others with a gift to IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine.
Lt. Col. Barry Gasdek, US Army (retired), a 1964 education and distinguished military graduate of IUP, has donated $50,000 to the project.
A native of Westmoreland County and graduate of Derry High School, Lt. Col. Gasdek currently makes his home in Laramie, WY.
In December 2022, IUP’s Council of Trustees endorsed the exploration of a possible development of a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP. With Lt. Col. Gasdek’s gift, IUP has secured more than $32 million in private and government funding for the initiative.
“Lt. Col. Gasdek’s commitment to IUP and to our students has always been a constant, the center of a life and career focused on leadership and service,” IUP President Michael Driscoll said. “His gift to IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine not only continues his legacy of service and caring for others, but is a demonstration of his belief in IUP’s commitment and ability to change the rural health care landscape,” he said. “We are very grateful for this gift and for his dedication to IUP, our commonwealth, and our nation.”
“I hope the students who receive these scholarships accomplish fulfilling their dreams, goals, and aspirations,” Lt. Col. Gasdek said.
“Granted, these will require a lot of studying and hard work, but they can always accomplish much more than they think they can! My older sister Frances and younger sister Kathy both worked in the medical field and hospitals as a nurse aide, nurse, and nurse anesthetist, spending much time in the operating rooms. It made me well aware of the training and dedication that is required to properly treat and care for patients.”
Pennsylvania, especially its rural communities, faces an escalating health care crisis associated with the lack of physicians, especially primary care physicians; seven rural counties in Pennsylvania are without a hospital. IUP’s proposed college of osteopathic medicine, once established, would be the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in Pennsylvania.
IUP has formally initiated steps towards accreditation of its proposed college of osteopathic medicine from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, a three- to five-year process that includes submission of self-studies and a feasibility study, along with site visits.
Once established, a college of osteopathic medicine at IUP is expected to generate $79 million in annual regional economic impact.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine complete four years of osteopathic medical school with an emphasis on preventive medicine and comprehensive patient care. National data shows that more than half of the graduates of osteopathic medicine programs pursue a career in primary care, and many choose to practice in rural areas. There has been a 93 percent increase in applicants to colleges of osteopathic medicine since 2011.
Lt. Col. Gasdek, who was honored with IUP’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015, will receive a Doctor of Public Service honorary degree at IUP’s May 10 commencement ceremonies.
A retired Airborne, Ranger, and Pathfinder infantry soldier, Lt. Col. Gasdek’s heroic military service in Vietnam earned him many of the nation’s highest honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Soldier’s Medal, five Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and 17 Air Medals. Following his retirement from the Army in 2012, he received the honorary designation of colonel.
Beyond his military achievements, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to supporting veterans, military families, and future leaders through his leadership in national and state organizations.
An Army Reserve ambassador emeritus, Lt. Col. Gasdek served as the Legion of Valor national commander in 2008–09 and currently serves on its board of directors. He is also president of the Association of the US Army’s Wyoming Cowboy Chapter, past Wyoming State director with the American Legion Boys’ State, past Region III and current state commander with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Military Outreach director with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, under the US Department of Defense.
He is active in multiple civic, military, and private organizations and has established valuable working relationships with military support organizations, veterans and local service organizations, state and community leaders, and the US government.
Lt. Col. Gasdek is a life member of numerous organizations, including the Legion of Valor, US Army Ranger Association, Association of the US Army, National Infantry Association, CIA, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Division Veterans Association, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, University of Wyoming Veterans Task Force, Laramie Area Chamber of Commerce, Czechoslovak Society of America, Lions Club, and Rotary International.
Additionally, he is an Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow (Vigil) member of Boy Scouts of America; a former board member of the Miss Georgia Pageant and Springer Opera House, State Theatre of Georgia; a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; and an inductee in the Hall of Valor at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh; the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in Vails Gate, NY; the US Army Cadet Command’s Army ROTC Hall of Fame; the University of Wyoming’s Cowboy Battalion Alumni Hall of Fame; the IUP Army ROTC Hall of Fame; and the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame. While at IUP, he was an athlete of the year and played in three sports: football, wrestling, and track and field.
He is also a recipient of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award, the Association of the US Army Soaring Eagle and Leadership awards, the Wyoming Outstanding Military Outreach Coordinator award, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Lifetime Achievement Award and Volunteer Award, two Lions Club International Leadership Awards, and three US President’s Volunteer Service Awards.
A former commissioner and veterans service officer with the Wyoming Veterans Commission, he has served as grand marshal of parades commemorating IUP Homecoming, Memorial Day in Cheyenne, and the Green River Rendezvous in Pinedale, Wyoming. He was also the subject of a US Senate tribute noted in the 2012 Congressional Record.
In addition to his IUP degree, he earned a master’s in counseling-psychology from Georgia State University.
In addition to Lt. Col. Gasdek’s gift, funding advancing the proposed college of osteopathic medicine includes:
- A $1-million gift from an anonymous donor who is a graduate of IUP and Indiana County native (April)
- An anonymous gift of $25,000 (April)
- A $250,000 donation from the Fairman Family Foundation (February)
- A $50,000 gift from Theodore Lazzaro, board certified surgeon and founder of Aestique Med Spa, IUP for scholarships for students in health care professions (December 2024)
- Senator Joe Pittman and Representative Jim Struzzi announced in October 2024 that $2 million from the 2024–25 state budget has been set aside for the project
- A $2-million gift from 1973 graduates Tim and Debra Phillips Cejka (July 2024). Tim Cejka, a member of IUP’s Council of Trustees since 2018, is an IUP 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award and honorary doctoral degree recipient
- A $20-million commitment from the Foundation for IUP (June 2024)
- In May 2024, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler included $2 million for IUP’s project among his FY25 requested community projects, and Senator John Fetterman included $2 million on his list to advance in the FY25 Community Project Funding (CPF) process
- IUP received a $150,000 allocation for the project in the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which was sponsored by Congressman Reschenthaler and Senator Fetterman and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 9, 2024
- In February 2024, the Board of Governors allocated $500,000 for a facilities feasibility study for academic facilities for IUP’s health sciences cluster and proposed college of osteopathic medicine
- A donation of $500,000 from the Alumni Association Board of Directors (January 2024);
- In December 2023, Sen. Pittman announced that as part of the 2023–24 state budget, $2 million was set aside for the project;
- A donation of $40,000 from IUP graduates Nick Jacobs and Mary Ann Hoysan Jacobs (July 2023). Nick Jacobs is a 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient who has a 1969 bachelor’s degree in education and a 1972 master’s degree in music education; Mary Ann Jacobs has a 1968 bachelor’s degree in music education and a 1993 master’s degree in adult and community education
- A pledge of $1 million from Rich Caruso, a 1983 accounting graduate from Meadow Lands (May 2023). Caruso is a 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and former president and current member of the Foundation for IUP Board of Directors and member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors.