Issue link: https://kusm-wichita.uberflip.com/i/1545861
As a proud graduate of a KU School of Medicine-Wichita residency, I have always felt strongly about the way we provide medical education here. Our healthcare community is very special and the way we interact with our local partners is what brought me back to make Wichita my home after completing fellowship. The success of KU Wichita has a domino effect on our city, region and state and as the new dean, I am eager to use my passion for education to help author the next chapter for our institution. I would be remiss if I didn't thank Dr. Garold Minns, dean emeritus, for his guidance, mentorship and friendship as I grew as a faculty member at KU Wichita. I continue to learn from him as I serve in this new role, and his support has been invaluable. There are many exciting initiatives underway that you will read more about in the following pages. We're incredibly excited about our recent expansion in both the residency and fellowship arenas, which will increase the opportunity for us to achieve our educational goals right here in south-central Kansas. Pediatrics and OB-GYN are both specialties that have significant needs locally and throughout the state and we have been able to increase the number of residents in each program. We recently graduated the first fellows in our gastroenterology and child and adolescent psychiatry programs, and we're excited about the opening of the addiction medicine fellowship. Fellows are a great educational resource for our students and immediately help us to improve access to specialty care in the state. These advances increase our opportunity to grow in clinical research, as well. Featured in this issue are some of our other new leaders and those who came before them. These professionals were and are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the challenges ahead and the needs of Kansans while continuing to grow the programs, providing high quality education for our residents. Turi McNamee, M.D., is the new associate dean for graduate medical education and her background in diverse academic institutions is already serving us well. Brett Grizzell, M.D., FACS, a KU Wichita student and resident alumnus and current chair of the Department of Surgery, has big shoes to fill in taking over for Alex Ammar, M.D., and we know he is more than up to the task. Ashley Robbins, M.D., also a KU Wichita student and resident alumna, is the fourth permanent chair in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She brings fresh ideas, excitement and a passion for rural Kansas. When I think about the new Wichita Biomedical Campus and what it will offer, I focus on our ability to train all students across all four years for their medical degree, which will increase their exposure to our community and reduce the stress associated with relocation. I am excited to collaborate with Wichita State University and WSU Tech and the opportunities it will afford our faculty, staff and learners. We are particularly excited about expanding our standardized patient center and our point-of-care ultrasound program. We anticipate growth in our already robust simulation program as the field continues to evolve rapidly. I am also excited for downtown Wichita — the growth in healthcare and other industries in the area and the opportunities it will provide for recruitment for all of us. KU School of Medicine-Wichita has a long history of leading the way in the use of objective structured clinical exams, paired with the most robust real-world clinical experiences, to ensure all our learners are fully prepared and ready to help Kansans live healthier and happier lives. This is a prominent focus throughout our curriculum and the growth of our programs and departments is a testament to that commitment. Looking toward the future We're in a great position to grow on our decades of success in providing high-quality medical education. Dean Laura Tatpati, M.D. Enjoy this issue of Embark and if you want to connect with me, please use this link: kumc.edu/wichitadeantatpati. 3