Medical school alumni celebrate their alma mater
Current UTSW medical students led alumni tours of the new Parkland Hospital.
By Julie Henley
UT Southwestern Medical School alumni returned to campus Sept. 20-22 for a jampacked reunion weekend. The gathering commenced with a special dinner celebrating the Class of 1968’s 50th anniversary. Many attendees had not seen one another or been back on campus in decades, and the familiarity of reconnecting with old friends contrasted with their surprise at UT Southwestern’s tremendous growth.
“What an amazing reunion,” said Dr. Brian Scott Allen (’83). “Thank you for the opportunity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of UT Southwestern with devoted alumni and many of my fellow graduates from the Class of 1983. I was delighted to walk down memory lane.”
Alumni learn about the new medical training equipment in the Simulation Center
Alumni from the Classes of 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2008 convened on the first day for a firsthand look at current campus innovations and a glimpse of future plans through presentations by Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern; Susan Hernandez, MBA, B.S.N., RN, Health System Chief Nursing Executive; and Dr. Andrew Zinn (’88), Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Alumni also visited William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital and the newly opened Simulation Center in West Campus Building 3.
Saturday’s robust schedule of events began with a presentation led by Dr. Angela Peterman Mihalic (’95), Dean of Medical Students and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Dr. Mihalic spoke on medical education at UTSW and nationwide, today and in the future. Alumni experienced state-of-the-art interactive learning in the Team-Based Learning Center, led by Dr. Robert Rege, Professor of Surgery and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education. Dr. Frederick P. Cerise, President and CEO of Parkland Hospital, was also on hand to discuss Parkland’s new facility, a topic that evoked nostalgia as alums reflected on their training at the old hospital across the street.
From left, Dr. Meg Kaufmann (’78) joins her son, Dr. Isaac Lynch (’05), Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at UTSW, and his godparents, Dr. Jim Lukefahr (’78) and Virginia Lukefahr.
Before departing on tours of the completely redesigned study alcoves and the new Parkland Hospital, alumni and their families enjoyed a traditional Texas barbecue in the Bryan Williams, M.D. Student Center. Former classmates and friends commemorated the weekend by taking snapshots at an instant photo booth and flipping through yearbooks. After the tours concluded, old and new friends departed from campus with renewed pride in their alma mater and an appreciation for the education they received while at UT Southwestern Medical School.
Dr. Podolsky holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science.
Dr. Zinn holds the Rolf Haberecht and Ute Schwarz Haberecht Deanship of the
UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Platinum Reunion Luncheon
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| UTSW graduates of 1944-1967 gathered Oct. 12 for a “Platinum Classes” reunion. Associate Dean for Medical Student Research Dr. Rene Galindo (’00) and medical students Austin Moore and Kelly Lawson led a discussion on the importance of developing physician-scientists during medical school and beyond. |