Dear Colleagues and Friends:
As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded of the importance
that families play in our lives. When most of us think of our family,
we are inclined to think of loved ones at home. Of course, each of us
also is part of a family here at the Medical University. It is in that
spirit that I write to thank all members of the Medical University
family for what you have accomplished, individually and collectively,
this year. Without question, we, like so many others, faced a year of
great challenge. As 2009 comes to a close, however, we have a far
better sense of the strength of this institution and the dedication of
the people who work here.
A year ago, it would have been bold to predict that within a few months
our faculty would compete successfully for National Cancer Institute
designation, a Clinical Translational Science Award, the largest award
from the National Science Foundation ever to South Carolina and a
record level of research funding. Later this week, we will join our
partners, the City of Charleston and the South Carolina Research
Authority in opening a research incubator that will commercialize ideas
generated at the Medical University and elsewhere, creating new jobs
for the region.
This year, we opened a beautiful state-of-the-art clinical facility for
the College of Dental Medicine, and new doctoral degree programs were
launched in Nursing and Health Professions and the preclinical
curriculum in the College of Medicine was completely revised.
Considerable progress also has been made in promoting interprofessional
education on campus. Our educational efforts are going global through
initiatives in China, Singapore and India, and faculty members are
developing outreach efforts in Ghana and Tanzania, among others.
Our hospitals are full to overflowing and less than two years after the
opening of Ashley River Tower we are looking at ways to increase our
capacity further. Through telemedicine, our specialists are providing
mental health services to veterans in three states and our faculty
members are providing consultations for stroke, high risk pregnancy,
and soon trauma and sepsis to some of the most medically underserved
parts of South Carolina. At the same time, our clinicians are winning
national accolades for the quality of care delivered in rheumatology,
digestive diseases, pulmonary medicine, nephrology, gynecology,
otolaryngology, pediatric and adult heart disease, and stroke care.
Measures of quality of care and patient satisfaction continue to place
us among the leaders in academic medicine.
All of this progress comes at a time when we are acutely aware that
many South Carolinians, including members of the MUSC family, continue
to face challenges because of the struggling economy. Now is a time
when we need to reach out to one another in appreciation and in the
hope that together, we can build a brighter future for all of the
people of our state. May the holiday season bring you and yours
happiness and good health.
With best wishes,
Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D.
MUSC President
Friday, Dec. 18, 2009
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