Dear Member of the WSU School of Medicine Community:  

In the last issue of scribe, I told you about our ongoing effort to plan a strategic course of action for the school’s next five years and beyond. Since that time, we have made great strides to meet current needs by addressing important administrative issues, while continuing our commitment to strategic planning.

Many of our recent accomplishments are related in the pages of this issue of scribe. I also discussed the past year’s activities with faculty, staff and students at my annual “State of the School” address June 6.

Importantly, we are changing our administrative and research infrastructure to allow us to better address the critical issues and challenges we are facing and expect to face in the immediate future. One of these challenges is to take stock of our existing areas of excellence so that we can strengthen our position in key areas, including women’s and child health, cancer and the neurosciences. Many of the new administrative appointments and new technology announcements in these pages address this strategic imperative.

I think you will agree that the business decisions that have been made are in keeping with the demands of a $480 million-a-year institution. As you read the following pages and grasp the full weight of the continual improvements that are being made to our research, clinical and educational enterprises, I hope you begin to share my excitement for the School’s future.

I will continue to keep you posted on our strategic-planning process. In the meantime, please feel free to share your questions and concerns with me at (313) 577-1335.

Sincerely,

John Crissman, MD
Dean, School of Medicine