Another academic year is coming to an end, as evidenced by the graduation of the medical school class of 2025 last weekend. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success to this year’s graduates as they transition to residency training.
Each year as I hand out diplomas and shake hands, I find myself envious of the much greater opportunities that these new doctors will have to diagnose, prevent and treat disease compared to when I graduated. The state of medical knowledge and technology that has evolved over the last 40 years truly is remarkable. Being part of a country that the rest of the world looks to as the leader in biomedical advances has been a great privilege.
However, in contrast to past graduations, this year I found myself saddened by the reality that ongoing external decisions and proposals occurring in our country, if not reversed, will almost certainly make it impossible for the pace of these successes in advancing health care to continue. Nearly all aspects of financial support for the pillars of academic medicine, education, research and advanced clinical care are — or are being proposed to be — cut to levels that will make even the level of care we provide today unsustainable, let alone having the U.S. continue to lead the world in advancing health.
Resiliency and creativity have been a hallmark of those who pursue careers in medicine. The invited speaker to the medical school class of 2025 convocation last Thursday, UNMC’s Wendy Grant, MD, associate dean for admissions and student affairs for the college, described a series of experiences that helped shape her career. Each involved a decision as to whether to carry out or pursue an opportunity that would be a personal stretch beyond her then-comfort zone. Her response in each case was, “Sure, why not?” and in each case it took her in a new and better direction.
Although we certainly need to speak out about actions and events that we believe will be harmful to the health of our patients and our country, we also need to be open to the possibility that in some circumstances our critics may have a point. This is a good time to consider new opportunities and new approaches. I can tell you that this becomes harder, not easier, with age. So, as we approach the beginning of a new academic year, I encourage the college to be open to exploring novel concepts, rather than immediately shutting the door on them. Opening new doors could lead us to better places and outcomes than where we were originally heading. “Sure, why not?” is a response we should all consider more often.
Let me close by hoping that you all find some time to enjoy the upcoming summer months.