This is an exciting time of year for all here at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences!
May brings a number of events to campus – the White Coat ceremony for first-year medical students symbolizing their transition to patient care as they embark on rotations in our partner academic health centers.
Research Days – May 14-17 - showcases the incredible scientific work our faculty, staff and students are doing and welcomes some of our nation’s leading researchers to campus to share their knowledge and expertise.
Our annual Commencement exercises fall on May 19 – Armed Forces Day, a fitting time for our uniformed medical students, advanced practice nursing and dental students, clinical psychology students, health policy and public health scholars, and scientists to officially transition into the next phase of their careers caring for and supporting our most deserving patient population – our nation’s service members, retirees and their families.
May also brings the newest class of students to the University’s Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing. This year more than 75 students from the Army, Navy and Air Force are matriculating – our largest GSN class since the school’s founding in 1993.
The month also gives us an opportunity to honor our clinical partners in the Military Health System through presentation of the USU Excellence in Teaching Award to the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth for their outstanding support of our students on rotation.
As the month comes to an end, Memorial Day reminds us of the importance of our mission: To educate, train, and comprehensively prepare uniformed services health professionals, scientists, and leaders to support the Military and Public Health Systems, the National Security and National Defense Strategies of the United States, and the readiness of our Uniformed Services. This has never been more important -- we remain a nation at war and the days ahead will be challenging. But whether serving in uniform or as a government civilian employee, it all comes down to the dedicated men and women here at USU who are bound together by this mission, by our shared history, and by our values best reflected in the oath sworn by all of us to defend and serve this country.
Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS, FACS
President
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
