Dear Members of the WUSM Class of 2018,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Washington University School of Medicine. You are a highly talented and diverse group of students. Your abilities, achievements, and accomplishments are extraordinary. You are joining an equally gifted faculty and staff that comprise a community of scholars committed to the service of others. You will become part of an institution with a proud history and an extraordinary future. We know that you will find the coming years to be both challenging and rewarding. Washington University School of Medicine has multiple, complex missions that include the creation of knowledge, the application of discoveries for the benefit of patients around the world, and the provision of state-of-the-art clinical care with skill and compassion. At the very core of our purpose, however, is the development of future health care providers, scientists, and other talented professionals. We are therefore committed to providing you with the best possible educational experience. We ask only that you use your gifts and talents wisely and well; that you treat one another, patients, faculty, and staff with respect; and that you endeavor to experience the joy of learning and discovery. As a WUSM graduate of 1971, I wish for each of you a portion of the happiness that I have known in being part of this great school.
Best Wishes,
Larry J. Shapiro, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and Dean