I would like to welcome everyone to the new calendar year. I hope 2019 proves to be a prosperous, happy, successful and healthy year for all.
While this is a beginning in many ways, it is a halfway point for our residents. Senior residents have almost reached the finish line and likely know whether their next steps will take them deeper into training or directly into practice. Interns are often surprised to find they’ll soon be residents, equipped with remarkable knowledge and heightened self-awareness.
This year, we anticipate structural changes including the selection our next director of the Division of Cardiology. We have almost concluded our first round of on-site candidate visits, and I anxiously await the next round of semi-finalists. My goal is to name the new director early in the new academic year. In the meantime, I am thrilled with the leadership exhibited by Ron Berger and grateful for his efforts during this time of transition. For the Division of Infectious Diseases, I will be sad to see Jonathan Zenilman step down from his leadership role at Bayview, but I expect to use this chance to unify the division across both campuses as we select a new site director through an open process. Please look for a new weekly combined announcement of DOM grand rounds at the JHBMC and JHH; these rich offerings can be enjoyed by attending in person, or through online streaming.
Reflecting on last year’s events at All Children’s Hospital, we are motivated to focus even more purposefully on matters of quality and safety, and their importance in keeping the trust of our patients. Vice Chair for Quality and Safety Steve Berry is leading an effort along with department leadership to make more explicit a plan whereby the department supervises and is connected to operations beyond our core hospitals.
We have a lot to look forward to this year. I am particularly excited to celebrate each of our three missions with individual retreat days, including our second collaboration with the Whiting School of Engineering for our Research Retreat on March 1, our Clinical Retreat on May 3 and the Education Retreat this fall. I encourage you to participate in these retreats as we celebrate our major successes and look to the future.
-Mark
