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Robert Wood Johnson
I
MEDICINE 1
Dear Colleague,
T
his issue of Robert Wood Johnson Medicine deepens my appreciation for the exceptional people
and programs at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Each article provides new insights into the
ways in which we are advancing medicine through innovative programs both here and beyond our campus.
"Turning Point: Recovering from Stroke to Dance Again" describes the lifesaving skills of the team that
diagnosed and treated a teenager's ruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformation and preserved her qual-
ity of life.
Lauren Evans '17 and two classmates traveled to South America to work in community clinics and
improve their medical Spanish. In "Experiencing Medical Practice in Medellín, Colombia," Lauren reflects
on their personal growth, lessons learned, and perspectives gained.
"The Gift of Hearing" tells the hopeful story of a toddler whose hearing was restored after she received
bilateral cochlear implants. The Pediatric Cochlear Implant Team, one of our newest initiatives, is provid-
ing a much-needed service to the region.
The medical school is celebrating a particularly exciting anniversary in 2015. "HIPHOP-Promise Clinic
Turns 10" describes the mission and impact of this remarkable clinic, created and run by students eager to
give back to the community while building their doctor-patient skills.
"Expanding Lifesaving Options in Aortic Valve Replacements" recounts the
nation's first transcarotid valve-in-valve replacement procedure, an intricate
operation that required the collaborative expertise of a 15-member OR team.
Testing the theories and mechanisms of preterm birth--a rising phenomenon
in this country--investigators in the division of maternal-fetal medicine are
focusing on the "primitive brain" of the placenta as a possible key, as explained
in "Controlling the Clock That Regulates Labor."
"A Child's Point of View Inspires a Research Center" describes the center's
work and its role as a training ground for future pediatric clinical researchers.
The multidisciplinary Pediatric Clinical Research Center promotes and
advances the safety and effectiveness of pediatric drugs.
I am honored to serve as dean of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and
appreciate the opportunity to be interviewed for "A Dual Passion for Epidemiology and Medical
Education," the profile that appears in this issue. I am pleased to describe my vision for the future of the
medical school and the U.S. health care system.
I want to thank everyone who has made me feel welcome and hope you will enjoy this excellent issue of
Robert Wood Johnson Medicine.
Sincerely,
Sherine E. Gabriel, MD, MSc
Dean
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