Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Each fall, I am honored with welcoming first-year students to the College of Medicine at the White Coat Ceremony. This year, 160 first-year students and their families and friends were in attendance, supported by our wonderful faculty and staff. The 2019 Dean's Leadership Award was presented to Titus G. Sheers, M.D., M.B.A., NEOMED professor of pediatrics and internal medicine and chair of the departments of Medical Education and Research at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. In his keynote address, Dr. Sheers urged new M1 students to "commit to the discipline of life-long learning" as an essential practice of effective physicians. This is a fitting and timely message for our students, faculty, and staff, as together we begin the start of the academic year!

Last year at this time, the College of Medicine was completing its self-study process and preparing for the LCME accreditation site survey visit, which occurred in late March 2019. The next step in the accreditation process is a review by the LCME Committee in October. As part of this work, the College has established a continuous quality improvement (CQI) process for regularly monitoring the performance of our strategic plan and compliance with the LCME accreditation elements. The data gathered from this process will guide the prioritization of our strategic plan, enabling us to advance the future of the College and our Mission "to inspire our students to become exemplary patient care centered physicians and to improve the health and quality of life of the communities of Ohio and beyond, including those both diverse and underserved."

As the College continues to work diligently to make improvements and address issues that were brought to light through the LCME self-study process and the site visit, we will share updates on both the progress and outcomes. The first update was published in The Pulse in August. Updates will be refined regularly and distributed to faculty, staff and students via The Pulse, the Dean's Message, student "Lunches with the Dean," "Faculty-Dean Town Halls" and the COM website. This issue of the Dean's Message newsletter highlights efforts in our curriculum, faculty development, and student engagement. There is amazing work happening in the College!

Finally, this fall will bring further exciting change to NEOMED. At the end of September, University President, Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., will begin his much-deserved retirement. The University and College have grown tremendously during Dr. Gershen's tenure. His passion for innovation, health care, and community service have left an indelible mark on this community.

With Dr. Gershen's departure, on October 1, we welcome John Thomas Langell, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., as our new President. Dr. Langell is a surgeon and researcher whose medical expertise lies in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, including those of the biliary tract and endocrine system. He is a champion of innovation and an advocate of "LEAN" methodology. His wife, Sara Whittingham, M.D., is an anesthesiologist and former active duty flight surgeon. I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Langell to NEOMED!

Dr. Langell has planned a " Listening Tour" with multiple stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and clinical partners. Keep and eye out for dates and times of events coming to you. I am confident you will both enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to hear his vision and ask him questions.

To the entire College of Medicine Community, I extend my best wishes for an exciting and successful year in the College of Medicine.

Warmly,

Elisabeth H. Young, M.D., FACP

Vice President for Health Affairs

Dean, College of Medicine