Director’s message: Celebration and appreciation

I feel humbled and insignificant as I think about our astonishing history.

As we celebrate 100 years of caring, we owe a tremendous gratitude to the people who came before us. Their names may not have been recorded in our MMI history book, but their caring spirit and founding vision permeates everything that we do today.

We stand on the shoulders of giants. They came from the ranks of the patients and their families, the supporters and activists in the community, elected officials and the dedicated providers who perform the healing. They are the soul of MMI and are woven into the tapestry of who we are today. We draw on their dreams, and their noble vision makes us do better every day, year, decade and century.

There is a lot to celebrate in the first century of MMI’s caring and transforming lives. However, we must appreciate the continuity of our existence: we appreciate past achievements, which shape our activities and spirit today. But it also is critical to point out that we draw on the past and present to shape our future. Great institutes are almost like a living being — they grow, change, transform, and continuously evolve.

MMI’s new home, expansion of existing clinics, establishing new services, starting new training programs, developing novel treatments, an expanded community building and enhanced advocacy are all part of this evolution. Reading our history, I have no illusions — I know trials and tribulations will be part of our endless journey. Yet, they will be insignificant in comparison to the joy, pride of achievement, and knowledge that we are changing the lives and transforming the futures of the patients and families we care for.

“Noblesse oblige” is an important, longtime concept that translates as “nobility obligates.” It refers to the unwritten obligation of people from a noble ancestry to act honorably and generously to others. In my mind, it also refers to institutions with a great, honorable past such as MMI.

For us, good should never be good enough, and excellence is not optional, but required.