Farewell to Dean

Last Thursday, I received an e-mail from a classmate that was forwarded by a second year; it was a message from our Dean, announcing that he was being dismissed from his position as the Dean of UCSF School of Medicine.

My initial reaction was pure shock. I think the first year students, by virtue of being at the bottom of the food chain, learn about things last. But apparently the news was just seeping out to faculty, other classes, and the UCSF community. Did I mention the press?

The details are quite fuzzy. The University has published a release that outlines the reasons for his dismissal; the primary reason stemming from discrepancies in financial reports (and it's a two-way argument, with no way to know who is actually correct).

The story has also been picked up by major news journals, such as the US News Today, SF Chronicle, and NY Times. Interestingly enough, the description of Dean on wikipedia was modified last Thursday to include the recent firing.

The headline for the Chronicle says it all: "UCSF medical school fires dean in dispute over finances." Until more details are released, I have no idea what to believe since both parties seem to be in disagreement...

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It's odd. I can still vividly remember our college dinner with Dean not so long ago. We all went around the table, introduced ourselves, and mentioned an interesting talent. He was an avid spinner and Springstein fan. This was my first interaction with him, aside from seeing him at our White Coat Ceremony.

During the White Coat Ceremony, he opened his speech, by pointing to the door and asking any student who wanted to leave, to leave now (and no one would look).

And by the looks of it, he seemed content working at UCSF. There was no way of knowing about all the turmoil happening behind the scenes. It goes to show how well buffered medical students from the truth. I really wish we were more in the loop about things.

It will be interesting to learn more (if they plan to share anything else with the medical students) when we return to school in the New Year's.

Whatever the case may be, we have been reassured by our administration that the resources that sustain us (medical students) are still in place. And the global search for his replacement is well underway. Interested?