Illinois Medicine

reunion report by Richard Asa Old Hands Share Their Experiences Reunion weekend welcomes nine classes dating back to 1962 S urrounded by a garden of medicinal plants and covered by a tent the color of the traditional white coats, College of Medicine alumni from nine classes mingled with first-year medical students to begin a weekend of celebration and reflection on a balmy late summer evening. The event was highlighted by the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1962, who received commemorative medals that were placed around their necks by medical students during a brief ceremony. The first-year medical students were on hand partly because the weekend also included the White Coat Ceremony, a relatively new but increasingly treasured part of the initiation into the College of Medicine (see related story, page 29). The weekend included another defining moment: Richard Nyako, MD, receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award for remarkable accomplishments, after rising from humble beginnings in his native Ghana, that include helping to revolutionize the neurology field in the Tampa, Fla., area and establishing a foundation in his native country to provide rare neurological services (see full profile on page 34). Dean Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, told the audience that they "reflect the mission and values of our institution, and [they] are key stakeholders in our advancements of medical education, enhanced research collaboration and the personalized medical care of our community, which serves as the cornerstone of the College of Medicine today." Adrienne Segovia, MD '90, chair of the college's Medical Alumni Council, noted that M1 Orientation Week (including the White Coat Ceremony), Match Day and Commencement all now have "an alumni face. In addition, we promote opportunities for all alumni to get involved and know some of our outstanding students." Alumni returning to campus enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect with their former classmates, tour the College of Medicine West Tower spaces slated for renovation to enhance student learning, and see demonstrations of and interact with modern simulation educational experiences. To showcase this advanced technology alongside recent curricular reform, administrators took alums on a tour of the Graham Clinical Performance Center, one of the first of its kind in the U.S. There, students refine their skills with simulation training on remarkably lifelike mannequins who mimic real patients—their lips turn blue, for instance, during an emergency. Students also undergo comprehensive digital assessments and work with local actors who provide feedback and realistic physician-patient interaction. Celebrating the tradition of excellence at the College of Medicine is an annual fixture on campus and offers alumni the chance to reconnect with the roots of their medical careers. Save the date for Alumni Day 2013, on Oct. 4, when the college welcomes back all alumni, especially the anniversary classes of 1963, 1988 and 2003, for programming that features presentations and interactive learning workshops, led by our distinguished faculty and department chairs. Photos: Diane Sm u t n y illinois medicine | 33

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