Greetings from the snow-covered University of North Dakota campus.  I’m sure you all fondly remember your days here, trudging through snow on your way to classes or scraping the thick layers of ice off your windshields.  Despite the challenges these northern winters offer, our school continues to grow and expand—nearly quadrupling in size in the past 25 years.

I’ve recently returned from a trip to India with my daughter Mary Jeanne of Los Angeles, CA.  We spent several days seeing the sights and experiencing a culture quite different than our own.  India is a country of extremes—extreme wealth and extreme poverty.  The poor level of hygiene, sanitation and nutrition in many places was shocking.  Medical facilities and resources are limited but good practitioners do the best they can with what they have. 

Mary Jeanne and I visited India's magnificent Taj Mahal.

I had the opportunity to give a presentation and do rounds at two children’s hospitals in Vadodara (Baroda), a large city in Western India, where we saw cases that are quite uncommon in the U.S. – tuberculous meningitis and dengue fever.   It made me thankful for the health system we have in the United States.  Even upon the doorstep of major health care reform, this country’s system is still far better than many others.  

Lecture room (top) and anatomy lab at the medical school in Valddara (Baroda), India.

I was a busy physician when Mary Jeanne was young and not always able to spend as much time with my three daughters as I would have liked (many of you can likely relate).  Times are changing though; today’s new doctors don’t want to work around the clock and the industry is responding.  This is a good development for the field of medicine, and one that will improve patient safety and quality of care.  I got a chance to learn quite a bit about Mary Jeanne on our trip, and she about her ol’ dad.  It was a cherished opportunity, and I highly recommend one-on-one opportunities with your children, whether they are 2, 52, or anywhere in between.

As you can see, I’ve been doing a fair amount of reflecting lately.  That is, in large part, due to my decision to say farewell to the University of North Dakota in June after 13 wonderful years.  Not yet ready to retire, I’m currently considering a few administrative posts around the country.  With the best rural health program in the nation, a phenomenal roster of faculty, staff and students, cutting-edge research and award-winning educational programs, the school is healthy and poised for continued growth and success.

Until next time,

H. David Wilson, M.D.
Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean