Director’s message: Despite challenges, reasons for optimism

“Downsizing itself is an inevitable part of any creatively destructive economy,” wrote James Surowiecki, business writer, in the New Yorker Magazine.

I agree with him.

Recently, you have heard a lot about Budget Reduction Teams, state budget and various financial projections, and I am sure that you are wondering how this affects MMI.

Change and challenges in every enterprise are imminent, cyclical events. The key is how we respond to them.

MMI is not immune to the fiscal challenges the entire state is facing. Everyone, including MMI ,is working strategically to make decisions to reduce excess and redundancies. Through this difficult process, MMI is committed to preserve its core mission.

The services provided to our patients will not suffer but only improve as we expand our activities. To mention only a few examples: MMI growth is imminent in all aspects of our activities, from the expansion of the Autism Care for Toddlers (ACT) Clinic, which has more than quadrupled in capacity, to the new genetic counselor program beginning next year, to applying for a developmental and behavioral fellowship program.

Challenges are part of life. They require thoughtful adaptation to new situations, but challenges also represent new opportunities that can make us better.

I remain very optimistic that this is exactly what we will do.

Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
Munroe-Meyer Institute