A Letter From the Dean

Dear Friends,

Reflecting back on the past academic year, a single word resonates in my mind – expansion – the origin of which dates back to1611, a mere 217 years before the Medical College of Georgia was founded.  Expansion is a process of unfolding or extending in existing space, or stretching out into new territory.  Expansion is certainly not a new concept, and as its definition suggests, it is inevitable for those seeking growth and change.  Expansion is here.

But to the MCG School of Medicine, expansion means more than new buildings and statewide campuses.  As paradigms shift to include a more interdisciplinary approach to medical education and research, we embrace expansion not only on the Augusta campus and throughout the state, but also through our evolving curriculum, our novel scientific discovery initiatives, and our many new clinical partnerships.

We have begun to take the steps necessary to engage Georgia communities and deploy resources to graduate more physicians in Georgia; however, a great deal of hard work remains ahead.  We know that the challenges presented will continue to test our abilities to rise to Georgia’s ambitious physician workforce goals.  Though the road is long, the journey is exciting.  MCG is expanding in ways that no other U.S. public academic medical institution has ever done before.  I am reminded of the caveat that “no man is an island entire of itself” (from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions by John Donne).

MCG is poised and ready to make expansion history, thanks to our many alumni who have positioned us to do so.  We must join forces to address one of the most serious challenges facing our state’s education system – the critical shortage of physicians to care for our aging population.  We have built a strong foundation on which to now extend the footprint and influence of the School of Medicine on students and faculty.

MCG is not an island.  As your Dean, I am proud to welcome you to the terra firma that is MCG: Georgia’s Health Sciences University.  You have been and will continue to be a valued partner in our future successes.  In the spirit of John Donne, may I call on you to invest in the great promise of MCG tied to the growing demands of medical education?

Sincerely,

D. Douglas Miller, M.D., C.M.