S T A N F O R D M D

Spring 2000

 

For Alumni
Stanford
MD

 

On the Cover

Bridging Disciplines to Squelch Cholera. 

Cover illustration by Calef Brown.

Stanford Medicine, published quarterly by Stanford University Medical Center, aims to keep readers informed about the education, research, clinical care and other goings on at the Medical Center.

 

MAN
DESIRING

 

 

MEET ANDREW COPE:

DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL

ALUMNI RELATIONS

BY CHARLES CLAWSON


 

  ANDREW COPE IS A COMPETITOR. "When someone challenges me to something, I can't say no," he admits. People routinely ask Cope what his next adventure will be. * Last summer, it was a U.S. Navy SEAL fitness competition in San Diego (he finished 62nd out of roughly 200). Two summers ago, it was scaling Mount Rainier: "One moment standing on an ice shelf on Disappointment Cleaver I thought, 'If my mother saw what I'm doing, she'd wring my neck.' "

His daily calendar has all the variety of a decathlon. During soccer season he leaves the office in full uniform. At one point he belonged simultaneously to a hockey team, two soccer teams, a bowling league, a softball team, and he coached soccer as well. "I'm so competitive, when a guy on my hockey team asked if I wanted to enter the Navy SEAL Super Fit Challenge, my instant response was 'When and where do I sign up?' "

Where Cope grew up, outside of Boston, even the weather provided a challenge. "Winter was a rite of passage -- something you had to endure. The first winter I skipped out here, I felt I'd cheated -- like I'd gotten out of a doctor's appointment or writing a paper."

Now at his desk, Cope is interrupted by the refrain from ESPN's SportsCenter alerting him to a new e-mail. In his office, papers are stacked on the carpet and also on the chair beside him. "I can find anything in a minute," he says confidently. On one shelf is a shrink-wrapped box of Wheaties, picturing the 1997 AFC championship New England Patriots' football team. On another shelf is a miniature soccer ball that he and co-workers toss around.

He loads a recently completed CD-ROM of the School of Medicine alumni directory. "You might get a kick out of this," he says, referring to the strains of J.S. Bach that begin the program. "I selfishly chose one of my favorites. It's called 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.' " Cope's choice of this particular Bach cantata begins to seem appropriate.

For the past four years, he has directed much of his restless energy into Stanford medical school's alumni relations. He and his group have helped expand the annual reunion program from one to three days -- which now include tours, classroom visits and an alumni-hosted gathering at a Woodside winery -- and coordinated programs for alumni in Boston, Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle. Recent programs have included updates on the current Stanford curriculum, advances in cardiac medicine, discussions about complementary medicine, and the effect of the internet on doctor/patient relationships. For the Bay Area, his group coordinates the quarterly Physician-to-Physician Breakfasts, held at the medical center.

Over the past three years, it should be noted, alumni contributions have increased 41 percent in dollars and 18 percent in donors, with records set for involvement.

"One thing great about this job," Cope says, "is that you spend 95 percent of your time around people who are completely enthusiastic about Stanford." He recalls common moments such as when a '60s graduate in Boston brought a round of emotional applause with his thanks and appreciation, or, less typically, when Marcus Krupp, from the class of '38, lead an animated cheer of "Axe Cal" during one Big Game weekend.

Cope is back to work, reading e-mail, searching for alumni in Minnesota. On his office door there is a "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon depicting Calvin through a series of rocky disappointments. The final line reads, "You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help." Mention of the cartoon brings Cope to look up and smile. He says, "I really like that one, you know, especially on one of those days where you've done all that you can." SMD