Celebrating Mike Schwartz

On March 27, 2025, a large group of current and former colleagues and students of Michael Schwartz, PhD, gathered in the team-based learning room in the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library (CWML) to celebrate him on his retirement from his leadership roles in medical education at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). Schwartz had served as the assistant, then associate dean of curriculum for the MD program since 2009, and as the innovation director since July 2021.

Heartfelt remarks by numerous colleagues reflected on Schwartz’s transformational impact on the school’s curriculum—including leading and implementing the most recent curriculum rebuild, where he served as an integral bridge between basic science and clinical science, playing a critical role through multiple accreditation cycles, and successfully navigating the curriculum through the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaker after speaker emphasized that Schwartz was an amazing leader and colleague, who had tremendous vision, steadfastly supported students and colleagues, could bring people together, had a tireless work ethic, calm presence, and a sense of humor, and, perhaps most importantly, was a kind friend. There were many, often humorous, references to Schwartz’s talents and life outside of work, from his carpentry, electrical, and barbequing skills, to being devoted to his family.

A highlight of the gathering was Schwartz’s family, including four small grandchildren, surprising him, when they arrived for the celebration.

Mindscapes

Another surprise: the unveiling of an art installation that four medical students created as a tribute to Schwartz. The work is now permanently located in the CWML team-based learning classroom, which is fitting both because Schwartz played a central role in the design of the room, including its technology, and because so much of the MD curriculum is taught in the space.

The work— a quadtych — is comprised of four 12” X 12” pieces, each created by a medical student. The inspiration for the piece is Schwartz’s background as a neuroscientist; for several decades, he was the course director in neuroscience, a course now known as Connection to the World.

Third-year MD student Lenique Huggins presented the work, on behalf of herself and her fellow student artists: first-year MD student Emily Guo and fourth-year MD students Hang Nguyen and Grace Wang. The tribute piece, called Mindscapes, was made using pencil, pen, gouache, and watercolor. Huggins read the following description of the piece at the gathering:

“Created in collaboration by four medical student artists, Mindscapes celebrates the esteemed career of Dean Michael Schwartz, an accomplished neuroscientist, medical educator, and mentor. Inspired by his dedication to the field of neuroscience, this piece presents the brain from four distinct perspectives, each rendered in a unique medium.

An axial MRI, representing the clinical and diagnostic foundation of neurology, is juxtaposed with a watercolor coronal view, capturing the fluidity and complexity of human thought. A gouache sagittal rendering highlights the intricate pathways that connect cognition and movement, while a whole-brain pen illustration serves as a testament to both structure and artistry.

This work reflects not only the multifaceted nature of the brain but also the impact Dean Schwartz has had in shaping future physicians and scientists. Each medium speaks to a different dimension of his legacy.”