Message from the Dean

In the current issue of The Lumen we hear from students and faculty in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences who share with us their intimate reflections. It is amazing to see the depth and diversity of talent in poetry, prose and art that are on full display in this issue. Our authors provide critical insights into their educational experiences, their interactions with the people they care for in life and after death, and on the relationships with their colleagues.

The practice of medicine is inherently about the relationship between people. The patient and their providers as Dr. Jacobs describes in his contribution. The patient and their families, friends and colleagues. The providers and their colleagues as described by Jean Llenos in their piece Stoa. Importantly, Vahid Yazdi includes their relationship with a person they will never speak with, the person who graciously donated their body to ensure the education of our learners. Dr. Grubb touches on the tragedy of mental illness, work stress and suicide amongst physicians in training.

Our contributors also share with us their artistic talents, using a diversity of media including cardboard, paint, electronic modeling, digital, markers, and watercolors. In each of these contributions our artists let us into the world that they see. Dr. Hussain brings together several of these themes describing the untimely death of Vincent Van Gogh by suicide. To our authors, congratulations on your contributions and for sharing with us how you see and describe our relationships and our world. You make us richer.

Christopher J. Cooper, M.D. (he/him/his)

Dean, College of Medicine & Life Sciences

Executive Vice President for Clinical Affairs

Distinguished University Professor

Vice Provost for Educational Health Affairs