Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr., and Dr. Josephine Templeton

Washington and Lincoln 2008: The Great Debate, is made possible by the generous support of Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr., and Dr. Josephine Templeton. Drs. Templeton, both lovers of history, have long supported educational, scholarship and heritage projects. Washington-Lincoln ’08: The Great Debate evolved from Dr. Jack Templeton’s admiration of the Founding Fathers, especially George Washington, and Dr. Pina Templeton’s admiration of Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy. The Templetons are both pediatric physicians whose commitment to children and America’s youth has been an inspiration to many.

Born in Capri, Italy, Dr. Josephine Templeton (Pina) came to the United States in 1949 with her family when her father was transferred here by his company. Much of her early education was in the United States until she returned to Italy in 1961 to attend Medical School. Pina returned to the United States for post-graduate training in medicine first at the Medical College of Virginia where she met her husband John M. Templeton, Jr. (Jack). Pina then completed a residency in Anesthesiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania followed by a Fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia under the Leadership of Dr. John Downes. After a two-year hiatus in Porthmouth, Virginia, while her husband was in the Navy, she returned to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care under Dr. Jack Downes. Pina is currently retired from the practice of medicine and is involved in philanthropic activities, including her church, and as a member of several committees at the Union League of Philadelphia, and served as former Board member of the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

After receiving a B.A. degree from Yale University, Dr. Templeton earned an M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School. He did his internship and residency in surgery at the Medical College of Virginia and subsequently trained in pediatric surgery under Dr. C. Everett Koop at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. After serving in the U. S. Navy, he returned to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 1977, where he served on staff as a pediatric surgeon. In 1995, he retired as Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Templeton serves as President of the John Templeton Foundation. He is also Chairman of the Board of Templeton Growth Fund, Ltd., which was founded by his father, John Templeton, who is a chartered financial analyst. Dr. Templeton is author of A Searcher’s Life, 1999, and Thrift and Generosity: The Joy of Giving, 2004.