Weill Cornell Medical College achieved extraordinary growth in the past 15 years, strengthening and solidifying its pre-eminence in medical education, clinical practice and research in the global sphere, Dean Antonio M. Gotto Jr. announced in the State of the Medical College address Nov. 29.
The 15-year trends across all Medical College sectors — including student admissions, clinical care, biomedical research, and finances — confirm the institution is on a trajectory that will continue to revolutionize the study and practice of medicine, pioneer new medical advancements and discoveries, and bolster patients' health, Dr. Gotto said. The Medical College's achievements are as much products of long-term strategic planning and philanthropy as they are a testament to the dedication of its faculty, medical staff and students.
"All of you played a role over the past 15 years and gave support and encouragement," said Dr. Gotto, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of the Medical College, to a standing-room-only crowd at the Uris Auditorium during the annual address, his last before he retires as dean at the end of the year.
"If I knew there would be this much of a turnout, I would have retired earlier," he quipped before his presentation.
Dr. David Hajjar, dean of the Graduate School, presents Dr. Gotto with an honorary plaque recognizing his significant contributions to the Medical College.
Dr. Gotto presided over what Medical College benefactor Sanford Weill previously described as Weill Cornell's "golden age" during his 15 years as dean. Since joining the Medical College in 1997, Dr. Gotto announced the school would be renamed in honor of Joan and Sanford Weill; formed an affiliation with Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas; and forged an affiliation with a medical school in Tanzania, renamed Weill Bugando in 2007. During his tenure, Cornell University, in partnership with Weill Cornell, established a medical school location in Qatar and a biomedical research program there.
The Medical College raised more than $2 billion for capital campaigns, funding the Weill Education Center, Weill Greenberg Center and Belfer Research Building — the latter of which will double the Medical College's existing research space when it opens in 2014.
But that is only the start. Dr. Gotto, during his hour-long address, detailed growth from finances to staffing levels over the past 15 years. Weill Cornell's endowment quadrupled to $1.1 billion, including $45 million endowed for scholarships, he said. The Medical College created 122 new faculty endowments, including commitments for 64 professorships and 46 clinical, education and research scholars.
The standing of the Medical College in the world of academia has solidified; students' mean GPA and MCAT scores are consistently superior to the national average. The mean science GPA for the Medical College Class of 2015 is 3.77, tied for highest in the Medical College's history. The Medical College is implementing curriculum reforms, placing a stronger emphasis on clinical experiences early on during medical training, and providing iPad tablets to first- and second-year medical students instead of printed course notes and texts. Enrollment has boomed at the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and the credentials of its students are competitive to that of peer institutions.
Dr. Gotto is given an award from the medical students — the Trophy of Administrative Brilliance — presented by Student Overseer Jeffrey Russ.
Funding for research is up and researchers are increasingly encouraged to seek out inter-institutional collaboration to find new treatments and cures for some of our most daunting medical challenges. Physicians working in clinical care are seeing 1.2 million visits from patients each year. Dr. Gotto oversaw growth in the Medical College's faculty and staff, exploding from 3,010 in 1997 to 5,617 today, an increase of 87 percent.
"You have done a transformative job for our institution," said Dr. David P. Hajjar, dean of the Graduate School, who presented Dr. Gotto with a gift in recognition of all he has done for the Medical College.
"Is there a surgeon in the house?" Dr. Hajjar joked as he helped Dr. Gotto unwrap the gift, a plaque that read, "Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University takes enormous pride in honoring Antonio M. Gotto Jr., M.D., D.Phil. in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the academic development of our medical center. No greater devotion has been exemplified by any provost or dean in the history of this institution."
Jeffrey Russ, student representative to the Board of Overseers, also presented an award to Dr. Gotto, but warned, "Keep in mind that we students don't have that much money."
He bestowed upon Dr. Gotto the Trophy of Administrative Brilliance — a pyramid of adjoined empty TAB soda cans. TAB is Dr. Gotto's favorite beverage.
"Med students drank a lot of TAB to make that," Russ remarked.
"I want to thank all of you for making these past 15 years memorable for Anita and me," Dr. Gotto said. "We'll never forget it."
Photography by Rene Perez.