We have ARRIVED...

Today as we were planning for the graduation of the Class of 2006, I was thinking about how far we've come in the past four years. Because it was about four years ago that we decided to make some major changes in the UTMB FM Residency. We tightened up our academic requirements. We made the decision that our ranked applicant pool will reflect the diversity of our population. We decided we would aggressively recruit residents who resonated with our mission to reach the underserved. We reviewed and revised our interview process and have continued to refine that process each year since.

As I look at you - the UTMB Family Medicine Residents - I'm really proud of you. I'm proud of what a good job you do every day, taking care of patients and taking your education seriously. I'm very proud of the Class of 2006. You started it all - you were the first group recruited for the new course we set. And now you're going into practice... mostly in rural or underserved areas of Texas. One of you will represent us in another state.

The residents in the classes below you have built on your successes and strengths and learned from your mistakes and experiences. You have left a legacy of unity and support. The faculty have high expectations of you and, more importantly, you have high expectations of yourself. High standards. I think the faculty have learned a lot about how to be helpful in times of struggle. And even the very best residents (and faculty) have their struggles from time to time. It's called being human.

Of course we will continue to improve and evolve. The Residency must and will continue those processes. But I think we all deserve to take a moment and celebrate what we've achieved so far!

We have become who we set out to be. Four years and counting is not a lucky break... it's a trend! Our new tradition. We've finally arrived and the Classes of 2006-2009 are the proof that we've recruited the group of residents we set our sights on four years ago. I am proud of the group as a whole and each and every one of you, from the graduating class to the new recruits. We have become who we set out to be. I like the sound of that.