I have just returned from the annual University of Nebraska Foundation event in Arizona that provides the opportunity to meet with many of the college’s alumni and friends in the area, of which there are many. UNMC was prominently present in the formal program, as Drs. Gold and Linder provided an update on the plans for Project Health.
But what I always take away from this event as I talk with our alumni is the pride that they have in the accomplishments of the college and how much they value the education they received at UNMC, whether it be as a medical student, resident, fellow or some combination.
Although facilities are important, what they most vividly remember are the people, faculty, staff and their fellow trainees. How committed the faculty were to their success and how they transitioned from students to physicians. I also heard from several how they would not have had the careers that they did without UNMC. In several cases they came from very modest backgrounds, in some cases working their way through college or coming out of the military, and our medical school was the only one that would take a chance on them. Legendary faculty from the past were often mentioned, including names like Grissom, Holyoke, Musselman, Meyer, Wittson, Henn, Latta and McFadden. But so were many others, including active members of our current faculty.
The take-home message for me is that you may not truly appreciate the impact you are having on others at the time, but your influence can be lifelong. So take pride in your role as medical educators and know that you are impacting health care for decades to come.