Dear colleague: 

Chancellor Don Elliman and I joined the leadership team of Children’s Hospital Colorado on a visit to the Cincinnati headquarters of Procter & Gamble last Monday morning and to James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence at Cincinnati Children’s in the afternoon. Children’s organized the tour to learn how the P&G develops and uses analytics in decision-making processes and to hear about the Anderson Center’s approach to investing in research. The conversations about sharing and understanding information and working together continued at the end of last week when Children’s Hospital Colorado and senior leaders from the School held a strategic planning retreat. For our partnership with Children’s to endure and thrive, it’s important to communicate clearly with each other about our goals and plans and I look forward to strengthening our partnership. 

Leaders from the Anschutz Medical Campus recently traveled to the Trifinio Center for Human Development in Guatemala to celebrate the opening of a new lodging facility. The facility was made possible in part thanks to the efforts of deans and chairs from the various schools and departments at CU Anschutz who were instrumental in raising the $100,000 needed to complete the project. As a result, up to 25 visiting students, residents, faculty members, pharmacists, nurses and community health workers now have a comfortable, safe place to stay while working at the family medical, dental  or soon-to-open birthing clinics on the site. 

Richard Zane, MD, chair of emergency medicine, will be recognized by the American Medical Association-Women Physicians Section (AMS-WPS) as an Inspirational Physician. The program is designed to recognize physicians for contributions to the achievements of women in the medical profession. The 2016 nominees will be recognized during September Women in Medicine Month on the AMA-WPS website. 

David Olds, PhD, professor of pediatrics and director of the Prevention Research Center for Family and Child Health, will receive The John Stearns Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Clinical Practice for developing the Nurse-Family Partnership, which provides ongoing home visits from registered nurses to low-income, first-time moms. The award, from the New York Academy of Medicine, will be presented at a ceremony on Nov. 3 in New York. Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, academy president, said David and others receiving awards are being recognized for significant contributions to the health of the public through innovative research, practice, policy, or programs that address the complex determinants of health. 

John Moorhead, PhD, associate dean for research affairs and professor of immunology and microbiology, is retiring on Sept. 1. At the Office of Research Affairs, John has overseen the critical work of verifying information on grants and contracts, ensuring required documentation is completed and other essential functions for our research enterprise. John joined the School of Medicine in 1973 and his no-nonsense take on the world will be missed in the Dean’s Office. We thank him for his many years of dedication and hard work.

This Friday, Aug. 26, the School of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting “A Toast to Diversity – Call to Action” to emphasize our commitment to offering an opportunity for learning, teaching, researching and practicing medicine in a community that recognizes the value, contributions and needs of each person. This event is being organized to build our community of underrepresented faculty, trainees and medical students; to celebrate accomplishments of the diverse community on the Anschutz Medical Campus; and to call leaders and the community to action supporting, mentoring, and building the culture of diversity and inclusion at the School of Medicine. I want to thank Shanta Zimmer, MD, associate dean for diversity and inclusion, and Regina Richards, MSW, director of diversity and inclusion, for organizing the event and for their ongoing dedication to our mission. 

Have a good week,

John J. Reilly, Jr., MD
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and
Dean, School of Medicine