Greetings from Dr. Humphrey
Dear Students, Faculty, Alumni, & Staff,
Holly J. Humphrey, MD,
Pritzker Class of ‘83
Professor of Medicine and
Dean for Medical Education
There is a great deal of discussion in the medical education literature of what is called “the hidden curriculum,” referring not to what is explicitly taught in the classroom or clinic, but to the broader environment in which education takes place. In short, the “hidden curriculum” reflects our institutional culture, and we all contribute to shaping that culture and are in turn shaped by it.
Recognizing its potency and formative nature, the faculty and deans of our school have chosen to take active steps to ensure that our curriculum—both written and unwritten—promotes an environment that reflects our best traditions and most important values.
Therefore, this year, we launched the Pritzker Societies, named in honor of four key figures who played an important role in developing the culture of our institution. The purpose of the Societies is to ensure that each and every student knows that there is a faculty member available to the student throughout all the years of medical school. Further, recognizing that building a career is a longitudinal process, not a discrete event, the Societies provide a context and opportunity for gaining advice over time from a broad array of individuals, ranging from peers to those students who are farther along in their training to the faculty. Each society contains a balanced number of students drawn from all years, thereby breaking down barriers between classes and promoting peer-to-peer layered mentoring. Students are also matched with one of five faculty members assigned to each society as Advisors. In addition to the Society-wide programs and social events sponsored by the Societies, faculty members will meet individually with each student and with smaller subgroups to provide the advising and mentoring that is crucial to students’ academic, career, and professional development.
In his final address as President of the AAMC at November’s meeting, Dr. Jordan Cohen asked us to serve as stewards of an important legacy, “to develop, not undermine our students’ character; to fortify the idealism that motivated them to choose medicine in the first place; to strengthen their moral fiber by conscious, conspicuous, and conscientious role modeling —in other words to prepare them to be professionals.” Perhaps the most important legacy evolving from the Pritzker Societies will be the opportunity that they provide for our students to take part in passing along the great traditions of our school and our profession.
Sincerely yours,Holly J. Humphrey
Professor of Medicine and Dean for Medical Education
