Your entry into medical school marks the beginning of a career path that we hope is exciting, inspiring and fulfilling. Millions of people throughout the world are in need of health care, including many in our own neighborhood in Washington Heights-Inwood. The challenges we face to provide universal healthcare, treat those with acute and chronic illness, and develop new technologies and treatments to effectively prevent and treat disease in our global world will become your challenges.

There are superb faculty at P&S to teach you basic science and clinical care. They take pride in our outstanding medical center and participating in your education. Your fellow students, whose interests and accomplishments are impressive like yours, will provide a community for learning, and some will become lifelong friends. You will have opportunities to conduct research with mentors who have made substantial discoveries themselves and learn in an environment that values inquiry and discovery. Many of you will participate in our international health opportunities, or one of our dual degree programs. The international nature of New York City and our community offers numerous opportunities for you to develop as physicians skilled in understanding and treating patients from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Our goal in the Office of Student Affairs is to foster your development as outstanding physicians and leaders. Each student is assigned an advisory dean who provides mentoring and career counseling by meeting with you individually and in small groups throughout medical school. We also encourage active involvement in P&S activities, including the programs that address student life. The P&S Club offers a variety of activities to meet the interests of our students, including the unique Bard Hall Players theater group, specialty interest groups, service groups, and programs in advocacy. We have an expanded Student Health Service, renovated library and student lounge, and a new teaching academy.

You are entering medicine at a time of unprecedented discovery in research and focus on global health. You are the future of medicine and will make a difference for countless others. We welcome you to P&S.

Lisa A. Mellman, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Email lam3@columbia.edu