Posts Tagged

dean

Today is Match Day for our senior medical students! At 11 a.m. today (12 p.m. Eastern), medical students from around the country (including those at the UND SMHS) learn where they will be spending the next three to five (or more) years as part of their post-MD residency. Hosted by the National Resident Matching Program […]

Today marks one year since the pandemic really started in earnest for Susan and me. On that Friday we retreated to our home and realized that our life – and that of our family, friends, neighbors, and literally billions of others – was about to change in profound ways. You know what I mean – […]

Here is some promising news regarding the School’s budget submission to the North Dakota Legislative Assembly (Legislature) that currently is being considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Committee just released a status report of its current thinking about the North Dakota University System (NDUS) budget request, of which the UND SMHS is one important […]

All SMHS faculty, staff, and students are invited to join us virtually for Java with Josh online on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, with their own coffee, tea, or juice! Dr. Wynne will answer any questions you may have about the SMHS, the ongoing legislative session, and COVID-19. Join us online from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 […]

This past Monday we had our first virtual Faculty Assembly during which I traditionally deliver the “State of the School” address, and Faculty Council Chair David Relling presents the various committee reports to the UND SMHS faculty and others in attendance. As it turns out, one of the benefits of the virtual environment forced upon […]

The School’s presentation to the North Dakota Legislature’s Senate Appropriations Committee this past Monday went well. Dave Molmen, CEO of Altru Health System and the chair of the UND SMHS Advisory Council and I presented virtually, utilizing the slides available here. We fielded a few insightful questions from committee members, but none that were problematic. […]

This past year has been a trying one on many levels. The impact of the pandemic has been enormous of course. The suffering of many has been substantial, and the losses heart-wrenching. So, too, is the recent passing of Lonnie Laffen, former North Dakota senator and a principal at JLG Architects, the firm that coordinated […]

The School held its first-ever virtual Holiday Gathering last night. Ordinarily, we coordinate December celebrations on each of our four campuses as well as a luncheon get-together that we hold on the second floor of the Grand Forks building. But because of the pandemic, we consolidated all five parties into one – made possible by […]

This has been a quiet week, all things considered, especially since UND was closed on Wednesday in recognition of Veterans Day. On Tuesday I sent an email to all School faculty, staff and students to remind them about the holiday and to ask them to pause on that day “to recognize, remember and honor the […]

As you are aware, the COVID-19 numbers for North Dakota (and Grand Forks County) are headed in the decidedly wrong direction. While I’d much rather have North Dakota and UND in the news because of the great things that are happening in our educational and research programs, our situation is attracting national and international attention. […]

Earlier this week, UND President Armacost and I presented the School’s budget request to the State Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The presentation went smoothly and there were no questions. We are requesting a needs-based budget in alignment with UND’s request for a 3% merit increase for faculty and staff in each year of […]

This has been a full and exciting week! It started on Monday with President Andy Armacost’s Inauguration Ceremony as the 13th UND president. The event was quite poignant and moving. Andy’s closing remarks were sensitive, thoughtful, inspiring and gracious. But even Andy and his wonderful remarks were upstaged by the loving, insightful and precious comments […]

This past Tuesday, the leadership team at the UND SMHS gave new UND President Armacost a 2.5 hour introduction to the wide variety of activities at the School. Over a dozen UND SMHS leaders gave presentations summarizing the programs and operations in each of their areas of responsibility. I gave an introductory overview and a […]

Not long ago I discussed the importance of mentoring for medical and health sciences students. We know from many surveys that mentors play a major role in helping students decide on career choices, like in what area of medicine to specialize. The importance of mentors was reinforced this past Monday when our Senior Associate Dean […]

This past Monday, the UND SMHS Advisory Council reported back to the Interim Higher Education Committee of the North Dakota Legislature, as is customary prior to each legislative assembly session and as required by law. As you might already know, the next session begins Jan. 5, 2021. I testified (virtually), along with Dave Molmen, the […]