“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”
– Wilma Rudolph
One of the things I love most about serving as the dean of The Ohio State University College of Medicine is that I get to hear everyone’s dreams. It is a privilege to have a front-row seat to the passions, hopes and aspirations that lead people to our college and to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center:
“I want to bridge the gap between science and patient care.”
“I want to alleviate suffering and cure disease.”
“I want to create a culture where everyone can thrive.”
“I want to be part of something bigger than myself.”
Dreams, whether big or small, personal or shared, are essential to the human experience. They move us forward. They help us persevere. And they remind us of what is possible, even when the odds seem long.
Recently, our college celebrated the graduation of more than 920 learners, including 193 new physicians. Each of these graduates arrived here with a dream. Some knew from childhood they wanted to be doctors. Others found their path through research, education or community service. Together, they now step into a rapidly evolving health care landscape, pursuing their dreams with compassion, knowledge and determination.
I remember what this felt like. Though medicine was not a family tradition—my father practiced law, my mother managed an office—it still called to me. I dreamed of helping people in a different way. When I entered medical school—and later, a surgical specialty with only a handful of female role models at the time—that dream fueled me. It gave me purpose, and it still does.
Over the years, I have drawn strength and inspiration from the stories of others who held fast to their dreams, even through hardship. Wilma Rudolph, for instance, overcame poverty and polio to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. Her story reminds us that with resilience and belief in our dreams, anything is possible.
To our graduates: Your dreams brought you here. Let them continue to guide you forward as you step into this next chapter.
And to everyone in our community: Hold tight to your dreams. Nurture them. Share them. Let them grow. Because when we dream with purpose, we don’t just change health care, we change lives.
This is truly a season of reflection, celebration and hope. Let us move forward inspired by what is possible, and by the dreams that brought us here.
Dean, College of Medicine
Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner Dean’s Chair in Medicine
Vice President for Health Sciences, Wexner Medical Center