For the first time in three years, the UNMC alumni association and the NU Foundation have been able to host their annual events, where alumni and friends of UNMC can interact with campus leaders and receive an update on what has been happening at UNMC.
As part of that program, I am asked to summarize what has occurred in the college of medicine since the last event. In preparing for this, I was in awe at what has been accomplished in the college over the past three years, despite dealing with the overwhelming nature of the pandemic.
The new curriculum has been solidified, outstanding classes of medical students have joined us and graduated, virtual interviews for admissions and the residency match have been adopted, the college was reaccredited for the maximum seven years possible by the LCME, a new regional campus is being moved forward at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, new leaders have been recruited, research programs have grown and funding increased, bolstered by the approval of the Center for Cardiovascular Research and the Child Health Research Institute, and outstanding and compassionate care of our patients has continued.
Although such success is what we are accustomed to and part of the culture of UNMC, when described to others it seems amazing — and in fact it is. Thank you and congratulations to each of you and the teams to which you belong for all that you have done to keep us moving forward over the past three years. It is an honor to be part of such an outstanding group of colleagues.
Let me also take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of our house officers, who were recognized through the various events of House Officers Recognition Week that took place at the end of February. The UNMC College of Medicine and its clinical partners could not do what we do without you. Thank you so much.
Speaking of house officers, we are all anxiously looking forward to Match Day, which will take place this year at the Scott Conference Center on Friday, March 17. At that time our graduating seniors will learn where they will be serving as house officers for the next several years. I wish each of them the greatest success in achieving their desired outcome and acknowledge the enormous amount of work that they have put in to reach this stage of their professional development.
For those of you who are considering attending the hooding ceremony in May, due to some scheduling challenges it will be at a different day and time than usual — Thursday evening, May 4, at 5 p.m. UNMC graduation ceremonies will be the following Saturday at Baxter Arena, as they have been for several years.
As I mentioned above, I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with our alumni. Uniformly they remain proud of their alma mater and recognize how well their UNMC medical school education prepared them for their future. The cost of medical education has grown dramatically over the last five or six decades, and our current students continue to face a magnitude of student loan debt that was unheard of a generation ago. Many of our alumni are now paying it forward to our current students through the establishment of new scholarship funds or adding to existing ones. Such generosity at a time when retirement accounts are not as stable as they once were is a tribute to how Nebraskans support one another and continue to look at making the future brighter for those who follow them.
I hope you all enjoy the lengthening and warming days as we see spring on the horizon. Have a great March.