Summer 2009

Dear Readers,

The Medical College of Georgia recently identified five strategic themes to advance our mission of improving health and reducing the burden of illness on society.

We think of the themes as a navigational tool: a road map, if you will, to keep us on course as we assess where we have been, where we are and where we are going.

You’ve no doubt heard the news that President Daniel W. Rahn has accepted a new position as chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. (Read more on page 2.) But he remains firmly at the helm as MCG advances vital goals such as erecting a new School of Dentistry building and establishing satellite, partner and distance campuses throughout Georgia. He is intent on personally seeing many of these goals through to completion and in ensuring the uninterrupted progress of those still under way when he leaves.

It will be no small task for a search committee to identify a successor as accomplished, dedicated and hardworking as President Rahn, but nothing short of that standard will do. Georgia’s citizens deserve nothing less.

In the meantime, President Rahn is busy doing what he has done since he was named MCG’s seventh president in 2001: putting one foot in front of the other to help MCG become one of the nation’s premier health sciences universities.

To help gauge that progress, MCG Today is now divided into sections representing the university’s strategic themes. We hope you find this navigational tool helpful and enlightening. Each section will be marked by a color denoting the key component of each theme. A sixth section—Faces—recognizes that none of our themes would be possible without the members of the MCG community—faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends—who help set them in motion and work so tirelessly to advance our mission.

Call me at 706-721-2124 or drop me a line at cderiso@mcg.edu and let me know what you think.

We’re continually evolving to meet your needs, and we need your input to do our best job. This is your magazine, and we never forget that.

Check out the legend on the printable magazine to help navigate your way through MCG Today as MCG navigates its way to national prominence.

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