Welcome from Dean Perlmutter [COVID-19 EDITS]
David H. Perlmutter, MD, is executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of Washington University School of Medicine.
Welcome to Washington University School of Medicine.
Taking part in a rich history of leadership in clinical care, medical education and biomedical research, our faculty, students and staff enjoy a dynamic and enriching environment, conducting work that is changing the future of medicine.
Right now, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reached our own community, it is extraordinary to see our campus prioritize the measures we must take to face this grave challenge. We have every confidence that we will return to our world-changing projects before long. In the meantime, it is inspiring beyond words to see our faculty, trainees, students and staff come together in service to our St. Louis community.
Walking the passages of the medical campus, I see everyone putting their heads down, doing the work and managing this crisis with courage and good cheer. We are rising to this unprecedented occasion with the same qualities we bring to every challenge: intelligence, teamwork, creativity and compassion.
Our culture of collaboration and inclusion is the foundation for success in everything we do. We recognize that by bringing together people from varying backgrounds, experiences and areas of expertise, we can develop richer solutions to complex scientific questions, train culturally sensitive clinicians and provide health care in a way that best serves our diverse patient population. To support these values, we are deeply committed to building a diverse and inclusive community in which everyone is welcomed, respected and supported.
The school’s graduate programs in medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy and audiology and communication sciences are ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and our medical students are the best and brightest in terms of academic quality. Washington University also operates the nation’s largest MD/PhD program, dedicated to educating the next generation of physician-scientists.
Our clinical faculty members are the medical staff for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital and provide care at numerous other sites throughout the region. Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s are perennially recognized for excellence in patient care and provide an outstanding atmosphere for training our students, residents and fellows.
Conducting leading-edge research in nearly every area of biomedicine — from basic science to translational and clinical investigations — is a hallmark of this school. We consistently are among the largest recipients of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding. Through this work, we aim to advance medical care, with a particular eye toward tailoring treatment to the individual for optimal outcomes.
Now more than ever, it is a privilege to witness our campus’s dedication to our purpose, to our patients and their families, and to our community. It is an honor to watch our faculty, staff and students harness their ingenuity and drive to meet the enormous challenge that this pandemic creates globally, and right here in St. Louis.
I have never felt so inspired by the work we do and the people who do it.
Sincerely,
David H. Perlmutter, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs
George and Carol Bauer Dean
Washington University School of Medicine