Letter from the Dean

Dear Alumni:

In coming to UCLA, I believed this institution was uniquely positioned to build the future of science, medicine and health. I sensed I was joining a community of extraordinarily talented and dedicated people, with an unflinching commitment to excellence. I anticipated a pervasive esprit de corps across the campus that nurtured collaboration and innovation. And I expected that UCLA’s location in Los Angeles, with its size and scope, provided an opportunity to make a substantial impact locally, nationally and globally.

Six months into my tenure as Vice Chancellor and Dean I am not disappointed -- far from it. Today I am even more confident about the leadership role we in the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) and the UCLA Health System will play in shaping the future and improving human health.

This truly is a transformative time for our honored and honorable profession. Significant scientific discoveries, technological advances, and medical innovations are occurring at a phenomenal pace. At the same time, we are experiencing economic and societal changes that will have a tremendous impact on the way we practice medicine. Yet as much as we and the world around us are changing, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, we have not forgotten our fundamental charge – to train clinically skilled physicians, who grasp and respect the power of basic research, who have the highest ethical principles, who are dedicated to their patients and their profession, and who have a thirst for lifelong learning.

We also hope that our graduates will not forget where their careers began taking shape and take an active role in ensuring that the DGSOM can continue to provide the best possible education to the best possible students. By supporting scholarship funding, you will not only help outstanding students who otherwise would not have the resources to attend medical school, but will also help position UCLA to compete for the very best scholars by offering substantial funding packages. I would also encourage you to get involved through various mentoring programs coordinated by our outstanding Medical Alumni Association.

You are an alumnus of the best medical school in the known universe. You possess the talent, passion and the commitment to take advantage of the opportunities and overcome the challenges of our times. But I hope you will also take time to look back and remember when and where the seed corn was planted.

Sincerely,

Dr. A. Eugene Washington
Vice Chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences
Dean, David Geffen School of Medicine

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