The Ceithaml Legacy
Dear Alumni, Students, Faculty, & Staff,
Holly J. Humphrey, MD,
Pritzker Class of ‘83
Professor of Medicine and
Dean for Medical Education
Graduation is right around the corner, a time for all of us to reflect on past accomplishments and to look forward to the exciting promise of our graduates’ medical careers. Watching our fourth year students join the ranks of our distinguished alumni is an opportune time to recognize the incredible legacy and accomplishments of our alumni from the University of Chicago . Our future alumni will join a community of truly extraordinary physicians, researchers and leaders within medicine and science.
No one has a stronger or more vital understanding of the legacy of the University of Chicago ’s alumni t h a n our Emeritus Dean of Students, Joseph J. Ceithaml, whose 90th birthday will be celebrated during the 2006 Reunion Weekend on June 3rd. Joe Ceithaml served as Dean of Students for thirty-five years (1951-1986) and during his tenure, he guided the academic careers of nearly 3,500 future physicians.
A few of his accomplishments...
- Under his leadership, Dean Ceithaml developed the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University, which has become one of the best and largest MSTP programs in the country. In the coming academic year, this program will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.
- A medical education innovator, Dean Ceithaml engineered our current Pass/Fail system at the University and helped develop the centralized American Medical College Application Service through the Association of American Medical Colleges.
- As Dean of Students, he advocated fiercely to develop financial aid systems for students and grew the medical school loan fund program from $25,000 to $6 million. The Ceithaml Scholarship, named in his honor, funds the medical education of a growing number of students each year and continues to expand as alumni give back to celebrate their beloved Dean of Students.
Dean Joseph J. Ceithaml
SB '37, PhD '41
Finally, the true testament of Dr. Ceithaml’s legacy can be found in the work and achievements of the students whose careers he so carefully guided. As a 1983 graduate of the University of Chicago , I had the honor and privilege of being a student under Dean Ceithaml, as did many of our current faculty. In fact, three of the inaugural members of the University of Chicago Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators are part of the Joe Ceithaml era, including Dr. Mark Siegler, MD ’67 , Dr. Ting-Wa Wong, MD ’57, PhD ’70, and Dr. Scott Stern AB ’80, MD ’84. It is for these reasons—his shaping of our school, the presence of his students on our faculty, and his ongoing contributions to medical students through his scholarship fund—that I believe our students today remain part of the Ceithaml legacy of excellence in scholarship and medical education.
Whether you are current students or alumni, I hope that you will continue to build your relationship with our school through our many alumni events, particularly those which offer the opportunity to work with our medical students. This spring, the Medical & Biological Sciences Alumni Association sponsored the first Day-in-the-Life program, which gave current medical students the opportunity to shadow Pritzker alumni at their work place. Current second year student, Colin Walsh, reports on his experience on his Day in the Life Blog. For more information about upcoming events and ways to stay involved, please visit the alumni website.
I want to offer a hearty welcome to those alumni who have returned to our campus for the 2006 Reunion and Dean Ceithaml’s 90th Birthday Celebration as well as a heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to our outstanding graduates!
Sincerely yours,
Holly J. Humphrey, MD ‘83
Professor of Medicine and
Dean for Medical Education
