From the Dean

Our medical students, residents and fellows are preparing for a lifetime of professional practice in a world far different from what most of us have experienced. Patterns of travel and migration mean that any community may include visitors and residents of many backgrounds. Diseases that were once limited in geographic scope may now be encountered throughout the world. Geopolitical, energy and climate challenges have global consequences. Students today need an understanding of the role of cultures and traditions, and how they shape individuals’ and families’ responses to health and illness, to best fulfill their professional calling.

It is the mission of the University of Michigan to “serve the people of Michigan and the world …” — indeed, it is a core value of the institution. As a leader in academic medicine, the Medical School community has an obligation to share our knowledge and expertise with those who can benefit, whether they are in Ann Arbor, Africa or Asia. It is not a one-way street; partnering around the world exposes us to new ideas and innovative methods, improving our own ability to teach, to serve, and to learn.

Globalism takes many forms, from training obstetricians and gynecologists in Ghana so they can provide health care to their own people, to partnering with leading Chinese universities in physician education, to collaborating on mutually beneficial clinical and basic research in places like Asia and South America. As we strive to have a global presence, we are seeking to better prepare current and future generations of Michigan students to serve our own diverse community and create the future of medicine through discovery and collaboration.

Sincerely,

James O. Woolliscroft, M.D. (Residency 1980)
Dean, U-M Medical School