S T A N F O R D M E D I C I N E

Volume 16 Number 3, SPRING 1999


FROM THE ALUMNI AFFAIRS DEAN

 

ALUMNI REGULARLY EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON at Stanford School of Medicine. In response, we have initiated a series of breakfast lectures titled, "Physician to Physician." This will allow SMAA members to learn firsthand from many of the outstanding physicians on the faculty what is new in clinical medicine as well as what is going on in research laboratories.

The format we have developed involves a 7:30 a.m. breakfast followed by the presentation. We plan to keep the group small, on the order of 12 to 15 physicians, to allow for interaction between the speaker and the physicians who attend. The first of these was held on Thursday, April 22, in the Bing Dining Room at Stanford Hospital. The speaker was Dr. Gary Glazer, chair of the Department of Radiology. His subject was "Advances in Imaging Technologies" (see adjacent story).

The next session is scheduled for Thursday, June 24. At that time, Dr. Mildred Cho from the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics will speak on the subject of genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Although these tests have been available for over two years, the demand for them has not met expectations. Dr. Cho will address this issue.

On Thursday, September 30, Dr. Randall Vagelos of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine will speak on the optimum management of acute myocardial infarctions.

The last session for the year is scheduled for December and we are currently working to develop the topic for that meeting.

We fully realize that holding the first four sessions at Stanford limits the potential audience but are hopeful that, if there is sufficient interest, we will be able to hold future sessions in San Francisco, the East Bay and possibly points further removed from campus.

It would be a great help for those of us planning these programs to hear from as many of you as possible concerning your interest in this sort of teaching tool and regarding specific topics for consideration.

As I am sure you will remember, Dean Bauer and his staff made several appearances last year to alumni groups around the country, including Southern California, Seattle, New York and Boston. These programs will continue this year with a gathering in San Diego on Thursday, June 17, and then in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 19. Additional events are scheduled for Seattle on Thursday, July 15, and plans are now being finalized for sessions in East Coast cities later in the year. These sessions are designed to let association members hear directly from the Dean and staff what is going on at the medical school.

All of these programs aim to enhance communications between alumni and the school. I would appreciate hearing from you; your ideas will help us achieve our goal of keeping in touch.

Ross D. Bright, MD

ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR MEDICAL ALUMNI AFFAIRS

Stanford University School of Medicine