Dr. Burton T. Mark

Dr. Burton (Burt) Mark of Thornton, PA, passed away on March 25, 2025.  Born in the Bronx, New York, on November 13, 1938, he was the second child of the late Judson Mark and the late Dinah (nee Finer) Mark.  His sister, Dorothy, preceded him in death.

Burt’s family lived in New York for a year and then moved to Patterson, New Jersey.  At six, he had his own laboratory in the basement, and at the age of thirteen he was running errands at the local hospital and standing on a box to look through a window of the surgical suite.  He always knew he was going to be a doctor.

After graduating from high school, he attended Temple University for one year, then transferred to what is now Missouri State University to be near the osteopathic school in the same town, Kirksville, MO, where osteopathy began. Burt graduated from MSU in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree and then graduated in 1963 as a D. O. from Kirkville College of Osteopathy and Surgery.  His internship was at Doctors’ Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, 1963-1964.  His residency in psychiatry was as Embreeville State Hospital, 1964-1967.  He earned as MSA in health administration from West Chester University in 1988.

Burt was affiliated with the American College of Neuropsychiatrists, the American Osteopathic Association, Kirkville Osteopathic Alumni Association, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Society, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Mark was certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, the Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review of Physicians, and in sleep medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine.   

He was the Director of the Adult/Adolescent Psychiatric Unit at Embreeville Hospital; clinical supervisor : Psychiatric Psychological  Practice; secretary, American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry; administrator, Psycomp Evaluations, Computerized Psychological Testing Service; and chairman, Utilization Review and Quality Assurance, Brandywine Hospital. Dr. Mark was also chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; clinical director, Psychiatric Services, Paoli Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and; board member, Chester County Mental Health; Mental Retardation.

Dr. Mark was former attending psychiatrist at Paoli Memorial Hospital; former chairman and attending psychiatrist at Chester County Hospital; consultant at numerous nursing homes; former medical director, University Services Sleep Disorder Centers; and director of sleep medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Temple University School of Medicine. He was an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Southern College of Osteopathic Medicine; adjunct professor of psychiatry at West Chester University; professor and chairman in the department of psychiatry, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; and a faculty member in the department of psychiatry, Temple University School of Medicine.

Dr. Mark lectured in psychopharmacology and electroencephalography at Embreeville State Hospital.  He was a visiting lecturer in psychiatry at Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine, at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; in stress management at West Chester University and at various state societies in Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio. At the AOA Convention, he lectured on Psychiatry and Rehabilitation, Osteopathic Philosophy, Psychosomatic Illness and Substance Abuse. 

Dr. Mark received many awards: The Legion of Honor; the Chapel of the Four Chaplains; the Distinguished Service Award, American College of Neuropsychiatrists; a fellow of the American College of Neuropsychiatrists; a fellow of the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, and of the American Sleep Disorders Association. In 2021, he was made professor emeritus of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

From 2001 to 2013, Dr. Mark was principal investigator of several sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, sift work disorder, narcolepsy, and others sponsored by Cephalon.

In his spare time, Burton (Burt) enjoyed being with his equine friend Zenith.  He would hitch him up to his meadowbrook carriage and go for long drives into beautiful countryside of Chester County. They had many good times together, even competed a couple of years at Devon.  When Zenith and Burt had a carriage accident competing in an event, Burt broke his hip.  When Burt was on crutches, he visited Zenith in his stall.  Zenith went up him and placed his face onto Burt’s chest.  As if to say, “I am glad you are ok.”  There was more driving but no more eventing.  Years later when Zenith was old and dying in his pasture, Burt went to him and sat on the ground with him and placed Zenith’s head in his lap and gave him his favorite treat – his last star mint.

Burt decided he wanted to learn how to carve song birds.  Lessons later, and after family helped to build a work shed in 2004, he began carving and painting his birds.  Before long he had a flock. He even added a few animals.  His shed was not only a place to carve but also a place to smoke his pipes, listen to music – he liked opera, classical, Spanish guitar, and others.  It was Burt’s place.

Burt had the pleasure of many friends, enjoyed telling jokes making people laugh, many happy times telling stories.

Burt is survived by his life mate of 63 years, Judith or Judy (nee Woods) Mark. Hi son, Jason D. Mark, and his daughter, Diana (nee Mark) Rowland, and son-in-law, Mark Rowland, and his only grandchild, William T. Rowland. Burt was blessed.

He was Uncle Burt or Burton to two nieces and three nephews and their families whom he dearly loved:  Michelle (nee Rogoff) Brooks, Lori (nee Rogoff) Watter of Florida, Scott Rogoff of New Jersey, Brad Woods of Florida and John Woods of Missouri.  He is also survived by his brother-in-law Bernard Rogoff of Colorado, Mike Woods, brother-in-law and Nell Woods, sister-in-law of Missouri.

A memorial service in honor of the life of Dr. Burton T. Mark will be held April 6, 2025, at Kesher Israel Synagogue of West Chester at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to support Behavioral Health Initiatives at Chester County Hospital Foundation, 701 E. Market Street, West Chester, PA 19380.

Burton T. Mark, DO, FACN
Professor Emeritus, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Burton T. Mark, DO, FACN, served as professor and chairman of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry for over 30 years. He retired from the College in July 2019.

Dr. Mark has practiced as a psychiatrist, neurologist and sleep medicine specialist in West Chester, Pennsylvania, for 53 years. He was the first sleep medicine specialist in the region, working at University Services in Exton, affiliated with Chester County Hospital and Paoli Hospital. Many of Dr. Mark’s professional colleagues were once his medical students clad in short white coats. 

He has served as clinical director of psychiatric services for the Paoli Hospital Board of Directors, Chester County Mental Health and the Mental Retardation Board. He has chaired Utilization Review and Quality Assurance at Brandywine Hospital. And early in his career, he served as director of the Adult/Adolescent Psychiatric and Geropsychiatric units at Embreeville State Hospital. 

A dedicated teacher, Dr. Mark held long-standing faculty appointments at Temple University School of Medicine, Southern College of Osteopathic Medicine and West Chester University. He was a visiting lecturer at Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine, Embreeville State Hospital, the American Osteopathic Association National Convention and various state societies. 

As an avid clinical researcher, Dr. Mark acted as principal investigator for various pharmaceutical studies focused on sleep apnea, sleep disorders, narcolepsy, adult depressive disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children. Many of his writings were published by the American Academy of Psychotherapists, the American Osteopathic Association, the Osteopathic Annals and SmithKline Beckman Corporation, among others. 

Dr. Mark held membership in professional associations including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American College of Neuropsychiatrists, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry (secretary), the Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association and the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Society. 

He was the recipient of the Legion of Honor, Chapel of Four Chaplains Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Neuropsychiatrists. 

Dr. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University, a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from AT Still University–Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and a master of science degree in health administration from West Chester University. He is a fellow of the American College of Neuropsychiatrists, the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, and the American Sleep Disorders Association.