Dean's Update
December 15, 2023 - Aron Sousa, MD
In today’s Town Hall, I did a bit of a review of the year, and I started writing the presentation by going through Updates and Town Halls from the last twelve months. I’m at a bit of a loss as to what a meaningful summary of the year would look like.
In short, it was as inexplicable as the years before it, and those around us will likely cast it as terrible or wonderful. Surely some experienced honey and light, for others the world spun in the hellscape of war, shootings, and trauma. All things seemed possible, and yet we could accomplish so little. We had seasons of hope and seasons of despair. Sometimes events filled me with disbelief, and, as often, I was warmed by my absolute belief in those around me. The year contained stupefying nihilism as well as wisdom in multitudes. It was the worst of years, it was the best of years.
If I leave the Victorian poet and many world events behind and, instead, focus on the work of our people this year, we have done a great deal of good in the world. Despite the headwinds faced by a non-hospital practice, our employed clinicians and trainees remain an essential source for high quality health care in their community. Across the state our faculty take care of patients in every imaginable setting from the most technological suite in the hospital to a patch of ground under a bridge. Our students bring energy, talent, and dedication to our communities and join faculty in the work of health care, scholarship, and outreach. Across departments and units, we discover and provide context, we improve policy, and we change brains and transform lives. With the people of our communities as collaborators and colleagues, we have made a real difference to so many.
This time of year, darkness comes early, and daylight arrives late. It is easy to see Venus bright in the east just as the sun rises. Hard by sunset, if you look east, Jupiter seems just as bright, while the sky turns midnight blue. Winter solstice arrives next week, and the Update and the Town Hall will take a long winter’s nap. I wish you and yours a safe and peaceful holiday season. Thank you for all you do to make the college such a special place to be.
Serving the people with you,
Aron
Aron Sousa, MD, FACP
Dean