In August, I had the distinct pleasure of welcoming the incoming class of 2029 at the annual University of Miami Miller School of Medicine White Coat and Pinning Ceremony. I saw anticipation, excitement and pride in the faces of the 202 future physicians who walked across the stage, taking the first steps in their career in medicine.
That, in brief, is the story of academic medicine: a continuum of learning, discovery, innovation and service in which everything begins anew. This issue’s cover story, “The Quiet Evolution,” is all about beginnings — the critical role of basic science research leading to fundamental discoveries that serve as the starting point for tomorrow’s novel treatments and cures.
That unrelenting vision of the future is why the University of Miami’s capital campaign was named Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. The campaign, which closed this year during UM’s centennial observance, was designed to celebrate our first century by strengthening our second. I’m proud that the nearly $2.7 billion raised during the campaign includes close to $1.5 billion for the Miller School and UHealth, fulfilling the goal we set at the beginning of this incredible endeavor.
While we don’t know exactly where each journey will take them, our goal is to produce transformational health care leaders...
Among other achievements, the donations (detailed in this issue) are powering groundbreaking research across specialties, almost doubling our endowment and funding 54 endowed positions on the medical campus. With this support, we are significantly expanding the scope of our research and giving our leadership the resources needed to recruit and retain world-renowned physician-scientists.
We also secured historic funding for medical scholarships, which supports the Miller School’s commitment to ensuring talented students have access to the myriad educational opportunities our institution offers.
The beauty of the first step in a medical career lies in the unknown. Our Miller School students are offered unparalleled opportunities in clinical care, research and community outreach. While we don’t know exactly where each journey will take them, our goal is to produce transformational health care leaders who will deliver value-based care and champion discovery and its translation into clinical interventions to improve the health of humanity.
This issue profiles a group of influential alumni who took that same walk and went on to change the trajectory of the Miller School and of the medical profession. Which brings me back to the members of the class of 2029. What will we write someday about them?
Dean & Chief Academic Officer
