Letter from the Dean
Dear Colleagues:
With
chrysanthemums filling the courtyard flowerpots and bright cool days,
the new academic year is off to a picture-perfect start. Students were
back last week for "Strategies for Success," and the posters
have begun to reappear on bulletins, bringing a feeling of excitement
and anticipation.
I would like to personally welcome everyone in the school community--new and returning students, faculty and staff--as we start the 2000-2001 school year. I am especially pleased that a beautifully renovated Shattuck International House is back on line this year and look forward to it returning as a center of student life and activity. Congratulations to Dean Paul Riccardi, his staff, and all of those working on Shattuck House to have it finished on time!
Several activities that began last year will continue this year, and I hope they will have a positive impact on our ability to conduct our mission. Two of these relate to the issue of mentoring at the school. Committees examined issues of both student and junior faculty mentoring last year and made very thoughtful and important recommendations. During this year, I will be working with faculty and staff to implement these recommendations and would like both formally and informally to hear from you about how we are doing in mentoring and career development.
The Future of Public Health series will begin again in the fall with a symposium on issues in international health on Wednesday, October 25 and on environmental health issues on Thursday, December 7. Last year, we had tremendous response to the first two symposia in the series, which were exciting intellectual events. With continued school-wide participation, we hope the symposia will establish the basis for a broader dialogue within the school on the major challenges we face in public health.
Finally, please join me Saturday, September 23, for the Mission Hill Walk for Health. This is a great opportunity to meet people, get to know the neighborhood, and support an important school effort to be an integral part of Mission Hill. I hope to see you next Saturday.
Yours sincerely,
Barry R. Bloom
