Volume 18 Number 1 Winter/Spring 2001

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Dear friends,

This is the last letter I shall write to Stanford Medicine's readers as dean of Stanford's medical school. Though I will continue in my role as vice president for Stanford University Medical Center, Philip Pizzo, MD, will have stepped into position as dean by the time you receive this issue of the magazine. I could not be more pleased with the choice of my successor. Dr. Pizzo, an acclaimed pediatrician and advocate for academic medicine, cares deeply about the future of medical education and about relating educational needs to the other academic missions of clinical care and research.

I know what I'm about to write next may strike some of you as hokey, but I shall do so anyway: It has been an incredible privilege to serve as dean of Stanford University School of Medicine. As I look back over the six years of my deanship (April Fool's Day 1995 through April Fool's Day 2001), I see many endeavors that bore satisfying results. I'd like to share some of these with you and offer my thoughts on some challenges that remain.

Most fulfilling has been working with faculty and administrators throughout the university. The human assets of this school -- faculty, staff and students -- are exceptional. I am awed by the creativity and energy of our faculty, which has allowed our research enterprise to flourish despite unparalleled constraints on growth. Here are a few indicators of our success:

* The School of Medicine ranks No. 1 among U.S. medical schools in terms of expenditures per faculty member conducting sponsored research. The school ranked No. 2 in fiscal year 1996 and moved to the top position in fiscal years 1997-1999.

* More of our faculty members are conducting research. Between 1995 and 2000, the number of medical school faculty involved in research increased by 56 percent, from 262 faculty members to 409.

* Research funding from outside sources has increased. Between 1995 and 2000, the school's total research expenditures rose by 76 percent, from $132 million to $232 million.

* We have vigorously promoted interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research programs and built, or will build, facilities -- such as the Center for Clinical Sciences Research and the Clark Center -- that focus on research themes rather than departmental silos.

Part of our success as a research institution has been our determination to make the most of the School of Medicine's fortunate location. Being on the campus of a premier university makes it easy for our investigators -- faculty and students alike -- to forge connections with leaders in most every academic discipline. The interdisciplinary programs we've developed have fostered an environment that nurtures synergy -- and have contributed to the competitive edge that garners funding for our faculty members' research proposals.

But not all of our efforts have met with such stunning success. I suppose that is to be expected when one's deanship starts and finishes on April Fool's Day. Indeed, the clinical and educational arenas remain ripe for innovation. In these challenging times for academic medical centers, failure to seize unique opportunities will jeopardize the futures of both enterprises. From our early discussions, I know Dr. Pizzo is eager to tackle these challenges.

It is now Dr. Pizzo's privilege to lead the school toward greater excellence. I shall
focus on the medical center's clinical affairs. My goal will be to assure that the medical center continues -- through strategic planning, facilities development and outreach -- to provide state-of-the-art clinical care and top-notch training for our students and postgraduate trainees. And by the way, we still must meet our bottom-line goals. With the creativity and commitment of the school's faculty, staff and students, as well as the staff of the hospitals and clinics, I am optimistic about our chances for success.

A closing thought: Stanford's School of Medicine is a magnificent institution. For those of you who are alumni, I hope you feel enormous pride in your school. I look forward to my continued interactions with you at future Alumni Weekends and Stanford-on-the-Road events.

Cordially yours,

Eugene A. Bauer, MD

Vice President for Medical Affairs

Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine