To the YSM Community:
During the last few days, reports from federal agencies regarding pauses in travel, communications, and grant reviews have raised uncertainties and may create confusion or anxiety among members of our community. Faced with incomplete information, human beings naturally create stories to fill in the blanks. As we gather more information, we will keep you informed. In the meantime, I write to articulate our basic principles and processes.
Yale School of Medicine remains anchored by its fundamental missions: “Yale School of Medicine educates and nurtures creative leaders in medicine and science, promoting curiosity and critical inquiry in an inclusive environment enriched by diversity. We advance discovery and innovation fostered by partnerships across the university, our local community, and the world. We care for patients with compassion and commit to improving the health of all people.”
The leadership of the school will be meeting frequently during the coming weeks to evaluate information as we receive it. We remain committed to our core values: Building an Engaged and Productive Community; Integrity, Reflection, and Communication; Generativity; Inclusion; and Discovery, Innovation, and Scholarship. We will continue to abide by the law.
We will cascade communications from the dean’s office. We ask that individual faculty, staff, and students share concerns or questions with their section chiefs/department chairs, supervisors, or deans so that we can respond effectively and in an organized manner. You can also refer questions to the office of the cognizant deputy deans–questions related to research to the deputy deans for clinical/translational and basic science research, questions related to clinical practice to the deputy dean for clinical affairs, etc.
We also ask that members of our community adhere to our policies and guidelines around communication.
- YSM Social Media Guidelines & Best Practices
- YSM Website Guidelines & Best Practices
- Report of the Committee on Institutional Voice
In this time of uncertainty, it is important that we focus on our work, support each other, and act with discipline. During COVID-19, we faced health fears and financial uncertainty. We learned that we are resilient, we can together tackle challenges through creativity and value-based decision-making, and we became stronger. We will apply the same principles moving forward. As we do this, we will continue to save lives, educate the next generation of leaders in science and medicine, and advance knowledge and human health.
Sincerely,
Nancy J. Brown, MD
Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Medicine
C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine