Although the outside temperatures continue to have a summer feel, there is no question that we are back into the swing of fall in the college with the excitement of a new academic year.
The senior class is busily preparing their applications for residency. The juniors are well into required clinical clerkships and thinking about electives for fourth year. The sophomore class has returned to begin the last stretch of the preclinical curriculum before preparing to take USMLE step 1. Finally, a few weeks ago we welcomed the new entering class of 137 at the White Coat Ceremony on Aug. 23 and the Parents and Family Day, which followed a week of orientation events for the students. Thanks to all from the offices of student affairs and medical education, as well as the alumni association, for making this year’s events another success.
I also appreciated the opportunity to interact less formally with our MD/PhD students at their annual retreat in Nebraska City. I am always in awe of the quality of the research they carry out. Congratulations once again, and welcome to the incoming group.
Finally, the Admissions Committee already is beginning to review applications from students interested in joining the entering class of 2025.
The weekend of Sept. 27 is our annual alumni weekend. Catherine Mello and her team from the UNMC Alumni Association have a great program planned, and I look forward to welcoming our graduates back to campus. So, you may see some faces that you have not seen for a while checking out what has changed since graduation.
As announced earlier this week and noted in this month’s InterCOM, one of our alumni, Dr. Robert Messbarger, will be taking on an important new role in the UNMC College of Medicine as he assumes the position of founding associate dean for the regional campus in Kearney beginning Oct. 1. Dr. Messbarger has served as the program director for the UNMC Family Medicine Rural Residency Program in Kearney for many years, and his knowledge of the central Nebraska region and its health needs, along with the challenges of rural practice, will be a great strength in assuring success of the new regional campus when it welcomes its first class in 2026. Welcome, Dr. Messbarger!
In closing, let me also offer congratulations on behalf of the entire UNMC College of Medicine to Dr. Jeffrey Gold on his formal installation as the president of the University of Nebraska System at the investiture events in Lincoln. We look forward to your continued leadership.