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The past and the future convened in the present during our once-in-a-lifetime bicentennial activities surrounding the commencement and reunion in May. From the clinicopathological conference to convocation, from the John Beale Davidge Alliance luncheon to the student awards breakfast, and from graduation to the gala, it was an action-packed celebration of the nation’s fifth oldest—and oldest public—medical school.
I was gratified to see so many alumni here on campus to attend reunion and commencement activities, and I was impressed by how far many of you traveled to get here. It was an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to greet so many of you. Manuel Levin, ’34, the most senior-presiding alumnus at our celebration, is an inspiration to us all! Lawrence Perlman, ’37, traveled all the way from Chicago to join classmate James Frenkil, ’37, for their 70th medical school reunion. Elizabeth Hosick, ’66, one of only a handful of women in her class, also traveled from Illinois for the dedication of the sophomore lecture hall in the Bressler Building which now bears her name. We are so grateful for her gift to refurbish the auditorium, as are the students who will benefit from her generosity. Mel Sharoky, ’76, chair of our board of visitors, and wife Alexias served as co-chairs of our 2007 bicentennial gala. Their loyalty and commitment to our medical school is simply unparalleled.
This year’s convocation was very, very special. Those of you who were there know what I mean. Alumni from 70 classes were members of the platform party and their procession onto the stage was awe-inspiring. To have 70 classes represented—dating back to 1934—was a sensational and humbling tribute to the loyalty our alumni feel toward the school (their names and several photos are included on page 10). In addition, on the platform party were representatives from the four medical schools older than Maryland—Penn, Columbia, Harvard and Dartmouth—and Dr. Darrell Kirch, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, represented the remaining 120 medical schools. I was indeed honored that they paid tribute to our important milestone by participating in our convocation exercises and other graduation activities.
Our convocation guest speaker was Dr. Abraham Verghese, a best-selling author and director of the center for medical humanities and ethics at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio. He delivered a truly inspiring talk on the search for meaning in a medical life. Philip Mackowiak, ’70, was also tapped by the students, and he delivered sometimes humorous and always thoughtful advice for the graduates as they transition from students to physicians.
This very special day ended with a gala celebration at the Baltimore Convention Center, where nearly 700 alumni reconnected, reminisced, laughed, and danced to Stevie V. and the Heart Attackers. Stevie V. is, of course, none other than Stephen Valenti, ’78, who has a cardiology practice in Columbia, Maryland, and a passion for music. Playing with Steve at the gala were Michael Ichniowski, ’78, James Miller, ’82, and Gregory Mitchell, ’72. We are most appreciative of the fact that Steve and his band waived their usual fee, a most generous gesture, which enabled us to apply even more of the gala proceeds to scholarships for our students.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of you who participated in any or all of our bicentennial graduation and reunion activities. As my first year at Maryland comes to a close, I can honestly say that I have been warmly welcomed, and I have truly enjoyed getting to know you. Many of you have said that you like hearing from me—in the Bulletin and through my open letters. But I like reading, too, so please contact me by e-mail or letter; or, better yet, stop in the next time you’re on campus!