From the Dean

Four years, for our students in the midst of their medical school training, sometimes seem endless. But then graduation and the start of their next stage in a lifetime of professional learning propel them into a very different world of medicine than physicians who preceded them encountered — lean principles to enhance care, for example, as you’ll read about in this issue. We congratulate our most recent graduates, including the four on our cover who we’ve been following throughout their medical school experience, and wish them well as they continue training as resident physicians at the U-M and elsewhere. We’re confident they will continue the tradition of Michigan graduates who daily make major contributions to the nation and the world through their patient care, biomedical research and medical education. We hope you’ve enjoyed our series of articles on studying medicine in the early 21st century.

Along with pride in our students, I also recognize the importance of their family and friends who’ve supported them throughout their medical school years.

I likewise appreciate the many benefactors who, through their foresight and generosity, have helped make a Michigan medical education accessible for so many. At a time of rapidly rising student debt in medical schools across the nation, our average student debt has remained stable over the last decade in the mid-$120,000 range. This, however, still presents a formidable burden which we remain committed to diminishing. It’s what we, the Michigan family of medicine, do to support our newest members.

Sincerely,

James O. Woolliscroft, M.D. (Residency 1980)
Dean, U-M Medical School
Lyle C. Roll Professor of Medicine