Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/87674
dean's message dean's message O UR COMMITMENT TO SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE manifests itself in the educational, research and clinical goals of the college. Our focus stays fixed on providing an excellent education to our diverse body of graduate and medical students, and trainees. At the 130th Commencement Ceremony, we celebrated another year of outstanding education with 278 MD graduates from across the college's four sites, and 38 PhD and 46 Master degree graduates. The educational foundation imparted to these new alumni will have a lasting impact on them as they begin careers in health care, academic medicine and biomedical research. We were delighted to host Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH, U.S. assistant secretary for health, as the 2012 commencement speaker. He underlined our institutional commitment of service to the community and our nation as well as encouraged the class to revel in their new responsibilities as healers and educators. The Class of 2012 had a 98 percent match rate, and as I attended the celebration earlier this year the excitement of students matching to highly competitive program specialties across the country was contagious. This palpable passion for academic excellence and leadership is the mark of a University of Illinois College of Medicine student. These virtues will allow each of them to pursue and excel in their individual interests in medicine and research. This issue of Illinois Medicine not only features the hard work and successes of our students and alumni, but it also celebrates the tradition of excellence at the College of Medicine Rockford campus, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Regional Dean Martin Lipsky, MD, continues to lead the Rockford site into a new age of service to the rural communities of Illinois and to provide important opportunities for student leadership and achievement. The College of Medicine also continues to have a far-reaching impact across the state and beyond. The encouragement of discovery at the new Cancer Research Center in Peoria allows researchers to experiment and discover treatments for this devastating disease. A student in Urbana-Champaign, Gregory Damhorst, inspires the local community and students alike to serve, work to develop novel therapies, and to enhance the health of individuals a world away. Throughout this issue you will find examples of great leadership and excellence. We will continue to shape the future of medicine through excellent teaching, active learning, faculty development and enhanced educational programs. As the College of Medicine undertakes exciting university wide technological innovations and modernization to the physical educational environment, we will continue to showcase our academically distinct and talented Illinois Medicine community. Thank you for your continued support. Dimitri T. Azar, MD, MBA Dean, University of Illinois College of Medicine B.A. Field Endowed Chair of Ophthalmologic Research Professor of Ophthalmology, Bioengineering and Pharmacology ILLINOIS MEDICINE | 1 PHOTO: ROBERTA DUPUIS-DEVLIN