Dear WCM Community,
I hope you’ve had a restful and restorative summer. I am excited to welcome our community back to campus and celebrate the traditions that come with new arrivals as well as new beginnings.
Last month, I enjoyed meeting our medical student class of 2028 in the first minute of their first hour on campus. They have joined us from 59 different colleges and hail from 15 different countries of origin. I look forward to seeing how their perspectives and experiences will add to our richly diverse community.
At our annual white coat ceremony this August, it was an honor to address these impressive students and their supporters in Uris Auditorium. On a beautiful day, we celebrated the beginning of their medical school journey and reflected on how their powerful new white coats are an emblem of trust and responsibility.
All of us representing Weill Cornell Medicine should take a moment to appreciate the privilege we have to help patients and the New York City community around us in so many ways. The opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives has never been clearer. No matter what’s happening, we must remember to show kindness in our daily work, especially when dealing with people that don’t share our lived experience.
One of the other pieces of advice I gave our arriving students is on the importance of communication. Communicating with clarity, honesty, and mutual respect – whether dealing with colleagues, patients, or our loved ones – will take us far. As we navigate challenges and find new opportunities, it’s so important that all of our community engage in these conversations, with both enthusiasm and with care.
I am eager to forge ahead in this new academic year where there is much on the horizon. We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Belfer Research Building, which has been the cornerstone of our research growth since it opened. In 2025, we will be ready to open our beautiful new student residence, extending our campus further up York Avenue. Many departments are also planning exciting events with renowned speakers to help enrich all the work we do.
I’ll be sharing more about our impact and plans for the future throughout the year. Until next time, I thank you all for your commitment to build our world-class community, and I welcome your questions.