A message from the dean

Summer is here, so let me make a suggestion – if you haven’t already done so, take a vacation.

We all need a break.

My wife, Denise, and I recently returned from a two-week adventure that involved 12 family members and a lot of driving.

We swung through Iowa City and met up with our daughter, son-in-law and their five kids and headed east in a two-car caravan. We spent three days in York, Pa., with Denise’s parents and siblings. Four of the kids are under age 7, with the youngest just 1 year old. So, it was a great opportunity for the great grandparents to do a little bonding. 

After leaving Pennsylvania, we headed to the eastern shore of Maryland, where we stayed in a condominium, near Ocean City, Md., and Assateague Island and its National Seashore. We were joined by Denise’s sister, as well as our son and partner from New York and their dog.

We had 12 people in the condo at one point, so it was cozy. But, I have to say it was a great way to connect with our family. There were lots of laughs, walks on the beach, family meals, playing games that appealed to the 7-and-under set, and we even were joined by a herd of wild ponies who hang out on the Assateague beach – definitely something you don’t see every day.

We’ve all heard how important it is to take a vacation, but sometimes we’re not very successful at making it happen.

It’s a fact – most Americans will not use their entire vacation allotment this year. Why is that? A Huffington Post poll found that 40 percent felt they had too much work to do and didn’t want to fall behind. Another 26 percent indicated they were saving their vacations for emergencies.

This is not the case elsewhere. Most Europeans get a minimum of four weeks of vacation, and they use every day. It’s not unusual for them to take the entire allotment at one time – something that’s almost unheard of in the U.S. Europeans love to travel, even if it’s within their own borders.

So, are vacations really that important? The experts are adamant – yes, they are. The benefits you realize by taking a vacation include less stress, improved focus, reduced risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, increased happiness and improved sleep. Furthermore, when you return from vacation you are more productive and more creative.

Most importantly, vacations improve work-life balance. You give time to your family or yourself, rather than to your employer. Vacations strengthen relationships. They make marriages better. Children who go on family vacations achieve more academically.

Family vacations create more memories than any other activity. They promote family bonding. Studies have found people place a higher value on their shared vacation experiences than the material goods they acquire during their lifetime.

What more evidence do you need? Don’t let the summer and fall slip away. Get out of the office and take a vacation. You’ll be glad you did.

Before closing, I want to give a shout out to Dr. Bob Wigton, one of the iconic figures in the College of Medicine. As you’ve probably read, construction will soon begin on a welcome and campus history center for UNMC. The center will be built in conjunction with the Wittson Hall renovation project.

Major funding for the $8 million center is being provided by Dr. Wigton. It will be called the Wigton Heritage Center. It is an absolutely perfect fit. For many years, Dr. Wigton has been the unofficial campus historian. Nobody knows more about our university’s past than Bob. Our deepest thanks go to Bob for making the Heritage Center possible. It is truly a gift that will continue to benefit UNMC for decades to come.