Volume 16 Number 3, SPRING 1999

From the President

THE ACADEMIC YEAR IS RAPIDLY DRAWING TO A CLOSE, as is my tenure as SMAA's president. It has been a great pleasure to work with Dean Bauer, Associate Dean Bright, the board of governors, and Kaleo Waxman and her staff in the alumni office.

Here are a few highlights of the past year:

™ We centralized fundraising in the Office of Medical Development; the joint budget planning between Development and SMAA has been a smooth operation which eliminated the confusing mailings to alumni in the past. David Sachs, our renowned treasurer who led us through many budgets and bottom lines, has resigned. We thank him for his dedication and know he will be difficult to replace.

™ In 1999 we have encouraged support for the Medical Scholars Program, which will lose some federal dollars. This unique program attracts excellent students to Stanford and is worthy of our efforts. Students continue to be the SMAA's focus with the ongoing programs, i.e., SWEAT, the stethoscope ceremony, and the Match Day gala. We also support the gym for house staff.

™ Travel to alumni chapters around the United States, a new activity by the Dean's office and Development, has been successfully launched this year with meetings in Seattle, New York and Boston.

™ Plans are in progress for celebrations of the 40th anniversary of "the move" of the Medical School from San Francisco to Palo Alto. More about this later.

™ The establishment of the Ben and A. Jess Shenson Professorship in the School of Medicine and the appointment of oncologist Charlotte D. Jacobs to this distinguished chair was another high point of this year. Our thanks are extended to School of Medicine alumnus Jess for his generosity and our congratulations to Charlotte as she attains this honor.

I have been looking forward to greeting returning alumni from all the reunion classes with special emphasis on the 25th and 50th year groups. And selecting the subject and speakers for the symposium has been an exciting exercise for me. A stellar group of infectious disease experts has been assembled promising a stimulating morning. Alas, a ruptured Achilles tendon has intervened, which sidelines me from attending.

President elect Roger Peeks will take over and do an excellent job. My best wishes to him as he leads us into the new millennium. My thanks to all SMAA members for the honor of serving you.

A. Lois Scully, MD

President

STANFORD MEDICAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION