GRADUATION
by William L. Henrich, MD, MACP
On May 19, our School of Med-icine will graduate another class of physicians. This is a responsibility that lies at the core of our work, and it is one in which we must be fully resourceful. These physicians emerge from our school and join a profession grounded in integrity and anchored in nobility of service to others. They base their craft on what we have taught them and the example that we have been for them. The world is in need of more superbly trained physicians, and our goals of excellence in education are unwavering.
The life cycle of a School of Medicine is constant. We do not follow a traditional academic year as many other professional schools might. I would like to navigate through the steps that our
2007 graduating class has completed to attain the degrees recently conferred upon them.
Several changes have occurred since the class of 2007 first arrived on campus four years ago. First of all, they arrived at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Medical School. This past November, we officially changed our name to the School of Medicine which is congruent with most university affiliated schools across the country. In 2004 when these students arrived, the Medical School was under the leadership of Dean Steven A. Wart-man, MD, Ph.D. Dr. Wartman left in April, 2005 to accept a prestigious position as the president of the Association of Academic Health Centers in Washing-ton, D.C.
Thomas Mayes, MD, MBA, professor and chair of the department of pediatrics, was appointed interim dean of the School of Medicine until my arrival in March, 2006.
Since this class completed their first year there have been several changes to the first year curriculum. For instance, we reorganized into Organ System Modules with coordination of courses and topics, and decreased the number of contact hours in the first year from over 900 to approximately 790 to allow more time for self study and small group learning.
As the current graduating class be-came third-year students, the Clinical Skills Center opened on campus, a place where aspiring physicians and other health professions students learn the art of physical examination, patient history-taking and bedside manner.
This group celebrated Match Day in March of this year. This is the day when medical students around the country learn which residency program they will serve. This year, of the 193 students applying for Residency programs, 48 percent are staying in Texas and 27 percent are remaining here in San Antonio. We also saw an increase of students going into internal medicine, and the most notably in pediatrics, where there are 37 students pursuing this career choice, versus 27 last year.
As the students approach graduation, our faculty and staff continue to work diligently as our calendar begins again just a few weeks after graduation. It is a bittersweet time for us, of course, as we say goodbye to these outstanding young physicians. We wish them all continued success and personal happiness. A new first-year class arrives July 22, our current first-year students begin their second year on July 9 and our current second-year students begin their third year on June 18.
The work of education is constantly in motion, and we are challenged to con-vey to all learners the essential lesson that, in reality, education in medicine is a life-long undertaking for the best phy-sicians. The pace of discovery demands that physicians be constantly inquisitive for new knowledge, always remodeling their thinking as concepts and therapies change. It is our collective hope that this lesson has been well-learned by this year’s and all graduates of our fine school. It is what will distinguish them as superb as their careers unfold.
On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, I offer warm wishes and congratulations to the Class of 2007 and sincere thanks to our faculty and partners for a job well done.
Warm regards,
William L. Henrich, MD, MACP
Dean, School
of Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs
John P. Howe, III, MD Distinguished Chair
in Health Policy
