THE MEDICAL SCHOOL presented a special bicentennial display at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), held in Washington, D.C., November 2–6. Passersby were fascinated by the lighted timeline exhibit, which showcased the many historic medical contributions members of the medical school have made over the last 200 years. Accompanying the timeline display was a mummy from the school’s historic Burns Collection, which also drew many curious onlookers.

The medical school exhibit at the AAMC meeting

After a busy day full of conferences and exhibitions, Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, hosted a reception on Sunday, November 5, for all attendees to join in the celebration of the bicentennial. He was joined by the school’s previous dean, Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, and the School of Medicine’s first dean, Dr. John Beale Davidge (as portrayed by Alan Wade), and Darrell G. Kirch, MD, president and CEO of the AAMC. The exhibit is permanently installed on campus in the walkway between the lobby of HSFI and Howard Hall.

Hundreds enjoyed the festivities at Westminster Hall, marking the end of our year-long bicentennial celebration.

Hundreds gathered in historic Westminster Hall for the final campus-wide event celebrating the bicentennial. The reception was held on November 29, 2007, exactly one year after the bicentennial kick-off, which launched the year-long celebration.

Ice sculpture of the medical school seal was a focal point of the event.

In addition to faculty, staff, student and alumni, special guests included University System of Maryland chancellor William E.”Brit” Kirwan, Ph.D. The chancellor noted that because of the bicentennial celebration, people across the state and nation have a much better understanding of the incredible contributions the school of medicine has made within Maryland and around the world.

Guests viewed a slideshow of bicentennial memories with pictures of those who participated in the many bicentennial events. A holiday menu that included plum pudding and wassail, and pianist Jessica Shiu, ‘11, entertained the crowd with traditional seasonal songs and classical music. The reception featured special displays of bicentennial activities sponsored by many of our departments, such as event photos, departmental histories, posters and journal articles.