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campus news Ch i c ag o Peoria Rockford U r b a n a - Cha m pa i g n Letter From the President Honored With Distinction I'm regularly asked whether my time as president has opened my eyes about the University of Illinois — Dean Azar named as one of four University Distinguished Professors whether I've learned anything about the power of our programs that I did not already know after a nearly 40-year career that has made the U of I my only professional home. My answer is that it happens nearly every day, and the College of Medicine provides many of the most inspiring examples. I knew about the college's deep roots that trace back to before the turn Robert A. Easter of the 20th century, its growth to become the nation's largest medical school and its continuing rise as a global research leader. But over the last few months — in visits to our campuses in Chicago, Peoria, Rockford and Urbana-Champaign — I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that its programs have on our students, our state and nation, and the future of health care. The college is a model for opportunity, with a commitment to student diversity that has produced 60 percent of the minority physicians practicing in Illinois. Its blend of urban and rural campuses offers a training ground that is equally diverse and helps provide highly skilled care for patients across the state. C ollege Dean Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, pharmacology and bioengineering was among four people honored during the Annual Faculty Recognition Awards at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Oct. 11, where he was named a Distinguished Professor. This award recognizes those who have "made a significant impact upon their field through scholarship, creativity and leadership." UIC Distinguished Professorships have been awarded since the late 1990s. In total, 29 individuals have received this honor, nine of whom were from the COM. Previous awardees from the COM include: Mark Rasenick (2006), Geula Gibori (2005), Erminio Costa (2004), Asrar Malik (2001) and, prior to 2000, Ananda Chakrabarty, Paul Lauterbur, Igor Roninson and R. John Solaro. "I am honored and humbled to receive this award," says Azar, who became interim dean in May 2011 and was named permanent dean in December 2011. "I greatly appreciate being recognized for my scholarly and academic contributions." Named a University Scholar in 2009 and a UIC Distinguished Professor in 2012, Azar is an innovative researcher who has made significant contributions to the treatment of corneal diseases and refractive surgery through biomechanical analyses and advanced optics. A clinician-scientist whose work often includes a translational component, Azar's research has resulted in better understanding of corneal wound healing, the applications and complications of laser keratectomy, and the molecular organization of the normal and injured cornea. P h o t o : R o b e r ta D u p u i s - D e v l i n Amid predictions of a nationwide doctor shortage that could grow to 90,000 by the year 2020, the college is a leader in filling the void, graduating more physicians than any other medical school in the country. Many stay right here to serve the needs of the state, where one of every six doctors received their training at the college. And the college's researchers are on the leading edge of discovery, in critical areas ranging from cancer and infectious diseases to diabetes and obesity. Studies that are currently under way target breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, severe lung injury, retina damage and heart disease, to name just a few. The College of Medicine is truly a jewel of our great university and a pillar of its richly deserved standing as a world leader in education, innovation and service to society. My deepest thanks to our students, faculty, staff and alumni for their commitment to excellence and to a healthier tomorrow. Robert A. Easter President University of Illlinois 4 | Spr i n g 2 013 Dean Dimitri Azar (center) accepts his Distinguished Professor recognition from University of Illinois President Robert A. Easter (left) and UIC Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares (right), during the Annual Faculty Recognition Awards dinner last October. "I am honored and humbled to receive this award," Azar said.