MPulse — July 2008

Medical School Reunion ’08 — September 25-27

This year’s U-M Medical School Reunion will be our biggest and best ever! All alumni/ae from classes ending in “3” or “8”, as well as all emeritus alumni/ae (those who graduated in 1958 or earlier), are encouraged to participate in this fantastic opportunity to reconnect with friends and classmates, and to reminisce about your experiences at Michigan.

Full details, along with registration information, were mailed to reunion-eligible alumni in early June. However, you may click on any of the following links to:

If you have questions about class dinners, please contact Julie Antis at (734) 998-7703 or antisj@umich.edu.

If you have questions about events, please contact Gina Jennings at (734) 998-7597 or medevents@umich.edu.

If you have questions about registration, please contact Alison Pereida Knapp at (734) 998-7970 or medevents@umich.edu.

“Shaping the Future of Medicine” Dinner Celebrates Benefactors and Recipients of Student Scholarships

On April 30, the Medical School hosted a dinner to celebrate the many benefactors who have established named endowed or expendable scholarships, as well as to recognize the talented and hard-working students who are benefiting from their tremendous generosity.

Before the dinner, which was held in the soaring atrium of the Biomedical Science Research Building, guests were treated to a series of musical performances by U-M medical students. Performances included a piano and flute duet, “Georges Hue: Fantaisie,” by Clarence Tang and Alberta (Allie) Yen; a vocal solo, “Maitrim Bhajata-Sanskrit Bajan,” by Janani Krishnaswami; and an a capella performance, “Wanting Memories,” by Ryan Beyer, Maggie Kober, Jennifer Lobo, Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, Diana Spahlinger, Carline Watnick and Alberta (Allie) Yen.

Speakers during the dinner included students Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, Andrew Admon, Rosalyn Maben and Abdul El-Sayed. Medical School Dean James O. Woolliscroft, M.D. (Residency 1980), delivered the keynote address.

Alberta (Allie) Yen, Carline Watnick, Ryan Beyer, Diana Spahlinger, Maggie Kober, Oluwaferanmi Okanlami, and Jennifer Lobo perform, prior to the “Shaping the Future of Medicine” dinner.

David VerLee (M.D. 1962, Residency 1966) and his wife, Jayne VerLee, with VerLee Scholarship recipient Nate Wilson (Class of 2011)

Guests were also treated to a premiere showing of “The Leaders and Best: Nurturing Medical Greatness” — a short film the Medical School produced recently to highlight the critical role that scholarship giving plays in making a Michigan medical education possible for many deserving students.

Dean Woolliscroft Delivers “State of the School” Address

On May 20, Dean Woolliscroft delivered his annual “State of the School” address to an audience in the Dow Auditorium in the Towsley Center. To view a video of the Dean’s presentation, click here.

MCAS Student Scholarship Award Winners Announced

The U-M Medical Center Alumni Society (MCAS) annually presents three awards to students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their careers or in their studies. MCAS President James C. Hays (M.D. 1977), M.H.S.A., presented this year’s awards during the Senior Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 8.

MCAS Scholarship Service Awards are given to two students for their outstanding service to the U-M Health System, the University, or the community at large, as well as for their demonstrated academic excellence. This year’s Scholarship Service Award winners were Jennifer Knoester (Class of 2010) and Ginger Leonard (Class of 2010).

The MCAS Academic Achievement Award, on the recommendation of the faculty of the Medical School, is given to the graduating medical student who has achieved the highest academic standing in his or her class. This year’s Academic Achievement Award-winner is Kevin Brett Messacar (M.D. 2008).

The Medical School and MCAS wish to congratulate all of our award winners. To learn more about the MCAS Student Awards, or about how to nominate a student, please visit the MCAS Awards Web page, or contact Julie Antis at (734) 998-7703 or antisj@umich.edu.

Dean James Woolliscroft, Jennifer Knoester, Kevin Brett Messacar, Ginger Leonard, and MCAS President James Hays

Medical School Student Council President Anjali Arora (M.D. 2008) talks with MCAS President James Hays and former MCAS President Tom Varbedian (M.D. 1956) at the 2008 Senior Awards Luncheon.

Medical School Commencement 2008

On Friday, May 9, 165 U-M students received their medical degrees at the Medical School’s 158th annual Commencement Ceremony. At this year’s event, held in Hill Auditorium, graduates were joined by their friends, family members, mentors and peers to hear remarks by Dean Woolliscroft; as well as by the event’s keynote speaker, Atul Gawande, M.D., M.P.H., a professor at Harvard Medical School, and a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Gawande received a MacArthur Foundation “genius award” in 2006, and he is the author of Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science, which was a finalist for a National Book Award in 2002. His latest book is titled Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance.

Medical School Commencement 2007

Support the Future of Medicine by Sponsoring a White Coat

Each year, approximately 170 outstanding scholars have the honor of joining one of the most prestigious medical institutions in the country when they are formally welcomed as the U-M’s newest class of medical students at the White Coat Ceremony.

During the ceremony, sponsored by MCAS, new medical students gather in the presence of their families, guests, faculty members and leaders of the Medical School to formally receive the cloak of their future profession — the white coat. This event marks a milestone in the education of a medical student — entry into clinical medicine.

This year’s White Coat Ceremony will take place August 3, and many of the white coats presented are being provided by our generous and dedicated alumni. Click on the link below to find out how you can support the future of medicine by sponsoring a white coat.

Ways of Giving: Two Great Opportunities to Maximize Your Medical School Gift

Maintaining and enhancing the quality of our Medical School depends upon our ability to recruit the very best medical students, and to provide them with the finest training. Support from generous benefactors that fosters the very best in medical research and education is playing an increasingly crucial role in making that possible.

The U-M Medical School currently is highlighting two outstanding giving opportunities:

The President’s Scholarship Challenge: To encourage additional support for graduate/professional scholarships — including Medical School scholarships — U-M President Mary Sue Coleman recently committed $20 million in President’s Office discretionary funds to provide a 1-to-2 match for all new scholarship gifts made between September 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008 (or until matching funds are depleted). For more information about the President’s Scholarship Challenge, visit Ways of Giving, or contact Director of Alumni and Donor Relations BJ Bess at bjbess@umich.edu or (734) 998-6044.

Michigan Endowment Return Strategy: The U-M recently received special permission from the Internal Revenue Service to invest charitable remainder trust assets alongside its endowment funds within its highly diversified, long-term portfolio. This new program will provide Medical School benefactors an opportunity to increase the power of their philanthropy, while enhancing personal returns from their planned gifts. For more information, visit the U-M Office of Planned Giving Michigan Endowment Return Strategy Web page.