“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
– Ursula K. Le Guin, American author
There is a saying about the nature of time that resonates with me every New Year’s: The days may be long, but the years are short. Or, if you prefer, the ancient Latin variation: Tempus fugit. Time flies.
Day by day, progress often feels slow and incremental. Yet when you step back, the years reveal how all the fleeting moments – the lessons learned, the choices made, every heartache and every bright spot of joy – were interwoven to shape the remarkable journey that is your life.
With 2026 just around the corner, I find myself reflecting on the journey I have taken here at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. It has been an honor to serve as your dean these past five years. When I arrived in the fall of 2020, amid a global pandemic, I launched this blog series as a way to connect with you all. My first post talked about the power of gratitude, and that theme has been a fixture of my time at Ohio State.
I am profoundly thankful for the resilience, brilliance and compassion that define this community. Together, we have advanced our mission with courage and creativity, building extraordinary momentum that will continue to propel our shared journey forward.
Along the way, there were many moments that reminded me just how powerful a shared purpose can be on a path like ours. One of my favorites happened in 2022, when we received the Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Engagement from the Association of American Medical Colleges – national recognition of our unwavering commitment to transform lives throughout the communities we serve. That commitment has continued to guide every facet of our work.
We rose as a national leader in medical education; saw record interest in our MD programs; and strengthened our learning environment with the opening of the new Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center and the renovation of Hamilton Hall. Our research enterprise reached new levels of extramural support, and we implemented programs that nurture emerging investigators. We expanded our scientific and clinical footprints with the creation of two new departments, and we partnered with generous donors whose philanthropic investments, stewarded with care, will accelerate discovery and make a lasting difference for generations to come.
We were intentional, too, about cultivating an environment where people can thrive, launching initiatives that recognize excellence, elevate the voices of our valued team members and champion well-being. These efforts reaffirm a shared belief in our college that when we care for one another, our mission grows stronger.
Each milestone was meaningful not only for what we achieved, but for the path we traveled to achieve it – together. As I reflect on these accomplishments and the countless moments in between, I am reminded that the true impact of our work lies not only in the outcomes, but in the relationships, learning and trust built along the way. Thank you for allowing me to share this chapter of your story. It has been a privilege beyond measure.
As I return to the faculty and to my work as a surgeon-scientist, I carry with me immense pride in all we have accomplished. But more than anything, I carry the reminder you have shown me time and again: The journey matters.
My wish for each of you is that you continue to embrace your own path fully, celebrating the triumphs, meeting the challenges with grace and savoring all the moments that make a life. In the end, it is the journey that shapes us, and it is what matters most of all.
Carol R. Bradford, MD, MS, FACS
Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
Former Dean, College of Medicine 2020-2025