Dean's Message

Dean’s Message

I am grateful to be writing this Dean’s Message to you as executive dean of the OU College of Medicine. In May, the OU Board of Regents approved the title following my tenure as interim dean. It is my great honor to be serving in this role, and I look forward to working with colleagues across our state to continue our successes and build on our opportunities for improving health in Oklahoma and nationally.

The stories in this edition of the OU Medicine magazine are representative of the innovations that our faculty, students and staff are undertaking to improve the care that we provide to our patients. Meeting today’s challenges in medicine means that we must think and work in new ways and forge new partnerships.

The formation of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement is an important step in that direction. Creating a culture of diversity and inclusion is crucial in a setting where we are training the next generation of physicians and treating a diverse population. The community partnerships we are making will create pathways to medical school for students from under-represented groups, who are then more likely to return to those communities to practice. Through these partnerships, and understanding the specific needs of various communities throughout Oklahoma, we will be able to make more significant contributions toward improving health.

We see innovation at work in our geroscience research and the $10.7 million grant recently awarded college researchers, who will provide a deeper understanding of the higher disease risks we all face simply by growing older. We see the same dedication in the area of cancer research. With a $10.8 million grant, the Stephenson Cancer Center will, once again, expand its clinical trials program, enhancing the ability of our researchers and physicians to find new answers for treating complex types of cancer.

Our faculty members are also leveraging new technology and ingenuity to improve the care we deliver to our patients. Our neurosurgeons were the first to use a new medical device to treat aneurysms by diverting the flow of blood, thereby decreasing their potential for rupture. In the area of cardiology, one of our physicians saw 10 years of research come to fruition by showing a decrease in symptoms associated with atrial fibrillation through the use of a non-invasive device.

These are just a few examples of the efforts we are making to discover new solutions for patients. By thinking creatively and reaching beyond the boundaries of our campus, we will build upon our foundation of knowledge to address new challenges. No doubt our medical students, residents and graduate students who are learning from us today will also take these innovations and collaborations into their future careers and make even more advances. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to lead the OU College of Medicine and to be surrounded by such innovative thinkers. Together, we will make a difference in the health and well-being of the people of Oklahoma and beyond.

John P. Zubialde, M.D. Executive Dean