Thoughts as we enter the academic year - Message from Sam Hawgood
Last Friday, our newest class of medical students received their white coats in a ceremony that never fails to inspire those who witness it. As the students come on stage, they are “coated” by their teaching faculty, after which it is my privilege to welcome each one to the school.
One hundred sixty-seven handshakes can be a little rough on the wrist, but it is also stimulating, because I can see behind every eager smile the future doctor who will lead us to places no one has yet imagined. Based on the rich legacy of the those who preceded the class of 2015, I know some of the students I met on Friday for the first time will be drawn to a life of research and will help define the future of medicine. Others will focus on clinical care to provide cure and comfort and help transform the way medicine is practiced. Some will be moved to advance health care policy on a national level and some will become academic leaders here and across the globe.
Medical students are not the only fresh faces in the school that brighten our campus each fall. The 160 graduate students that are starting classes later this month are every bit as enthusiastic and eager to make their mark. Attracted by the spirit of collaboration and entrepreneurial energy of our research mission, they come to pursue different goals: many will train in our laboratories alongside our basic or translational scientists; some will study the social sciences; others have enrolled in our graduate-level physical therapy program. All are excited about working with our renowned faculty and hope they will be the next in line to make a discovery that will turn biomedical science on its head. The other schools at UCSF are also welcoming their new students, creating a campus community rich in inter-professional opportunities for us all.
Our research faculty has had an extraordinary couple of years, winning many of the world’s greatest science awards. Every time one of these honors comes to UCSF, it inspires others on campus, especially the teams of postdocs, graduate students, and research and support staff that stand with every successful investigator.
I remember how excited I was when I first came to UCSF from my native Australia 30 years ago. My goal was to advance my studies by working with an exceptional scientist, the great Lasker awardee John Clements. What I found at UCSF was more than a remarkably rich and collaborative research environment. Working in the newborn intensive care unit, one of the first of its kind in the world, immersed me in a clinical culture that thrived on innovation and the pursuit of excellence. Everything seemed possible and everybody was prepared to help as I started my career.
In the years following, I took on new responsibilities here at UCSF, each exciting and challenging in its own way. I found myself involved in the education of our trainees on different levels. I’ve learned much and gained enormous satisfaction in supporting the initiatives in medical, graduate, and post graduate education that have made this school a model in academia.
The world, of course, has changed since my career started, with new career opportunities for our students accompanied by new financial and societal challenges. Despite ongoing change, UCSF continues to offer everyone who comes here, in whatever capacity, the skills and encouragement to be an agent of change and make their own contribution. We know our students learn not just from our faculty and the teaching staff, they learn from their patients, from each other, and everyone in our community. Happily, when I shake our students’ hands again at graduation, I find that their unbridled enthusiasm and their passion to improve the world are just as fresh as when I first met them.
As we start the academic year, I am well aware of the scope of the fiscal problems we face. I am also convinced that we have the talent and vision to get past the current crisis and continue to excel, indeed to set the standard for how a public university can thrive. Despite previous declines in state support, we have remained one of the very best medical schools in the world. In just this past year, we received three-fold maximum accreditation of our student, resident and CME training programs, along with the campus’ accreditation. These accomplishments were possible because we have the ability to work together, even in face of adversity, and to take advantage of the very same culture of collaboration and innovation that excited me as a fellow when I arrived at UCSF in 1982.
At the White Coat ceremony, I was joined in welcoming our new students by our new Vice Dean of Medical Education, Catherine Lucey. Knowing her passion for innovation and excellence in medical training, I look forward to seeing her carry on and expand the incredible work of the last 13 years led by our outgoing Vice Dean David Irby.
UCSF’s greatest strength is our ability to attract exceptional people. The students we welcome to the campus this year again confirm the vitality and excellence of the school. I ask each of you to join me in making sure they feel welcomed, embraced by the UCSF community, and confident in their choice of UCSF for their professional and graduate training.
UCSF White Coat Ceremony article
Molly Cooke, Director, Academy of Medical Educators
Bobby Baron, Associate Dean Graduate Medical Education & Continuing Medical Education
