CHCS - Perspectives - Summer/Fall 2014

PERSPECTIVES • SUMMER–FALL 2014 5 We’re at the time of year again when we say goodbye to the many distinguished stu- dents who have gained their knowledge and honed their professional skills while being taught by the dedicated faculty and staff members here at NSU’s Health Pro- fessions Division (HPD). For me, graduation season often brings back memories of the HPD’s founder, Dr. Morton Terry, whose vision and un- derstanding of what the future of health care would entail both impressed and in- spired me. He realized that truly effective health care required both the understand- ing and willingness of the general public to accept the precepts of wellness and prevention, as well as gain respect for all the health care professionals involved in their care. In fact, it was these concepts that led to the establishment of the Health Professions Division. When Southeastern College of Osteo- pathic Medicine was established in 1979, Dr. Terry’s goal was not to create a med- ical school that would become the 800- pound gorilla; it was to have it serve as a shining example to the other health profes- sions of respect and professionalism as we added additional schools prior to the merger in 1994 with Nova University. Because of the evolution that has oc- curred in my 28 years with this institution, I really view graduation as a point in time that is a bit sad because it represents the last time I will see many of the bright, eager faces I’ve gotten to know over the years. That’s why I always have this to say to the parents during my comments at the graduation dinner banquet: “You’ll have to excuse me for feeling a bit melancholy because these students have been part of my family for a long time. They’re like children to me, so when I see them leave, it’s bittersweet.” Graduation, however, also brings to mind the fact that we have a whole new group of students coming into the Health Professions Division each summer after our graduates depart. The beauty of Nova Southeastern University is seeing all the new faces and the essence of what this nation is really all about—multiple ethnic groups, races, genders, styles, is- sues, and relationships. I recently had a conversation with sev- eral of our HPD deans, who shared their thoughts regarding what an incredible value system we have here and how this has allowed us to establish an esteemed reputation throughout the United States. This is reflected in the quality students we are attracting, who truly have a desire to be enrolled in our programs. It also speaks to the dedication and compassion of our faculty and staff members, who truly care about the students. I believe very strongly that the individu- als our students come into contact with daily at NSU’s Health Professions Divi- sion—from those staffing the reception desks within each of our seven schools to the various support people, all play an in- tegral role in enhancing our reputation. If they convey to our students the traits of being courteous, respectful, and gracious, then we’ve done our job. Academic achievement is a noble attrib- ute, but I don’t think we want to measure our quality simply by this one standard of excellence. We want to say, “This is a good human being.” That’s why I feel a bit melancholic as I watch our new graduates leave. But in the same sense, there’s happi- ness and a state of jubilation in seeing all the bright new faces begin their profes- sional journeys a few months later. When you recognize that over 800 grad- uates walked across the stage at the HPD graduation ceremony on May 18—and that over 95 percent of them were here from their very first day of class—it makes you feel proud because that’s a remarkable retention rate. It also relates not only to our graduates’ capabilities, but also to the fact that the eight NSU core values our president, Dr. George Hanbury, always talks about are not just words on a page but are instead an outcomes-based reality. During the past few months, I met with several class presidents from our colleges. I told them I possessed a “Chipsonian” per- sonality, to which one of the students quizzically asked, “What do you mean?” They had never seen the movie Goodbye, Mr. Chips , which is about a headmaster at a school who would get out of his office and walk the hallways during class breaks and recesses just to talk to the students. I usually find myself doing this once or twice a day because our students are ex- tremely responsive and communicative. In general, people hear about the so-called ills and warts that are voiced at the univer- sity’s various town hall meetings and in similar venues. But the reality is that an overwhelming number of our students feel respected, nurtured—and embraced. CHAnCeLLOR’s COMMUnIqUé “The beauty of nova southeastern University is seeing all the new faces and the essence of what this nation is really all about—multiple ethnic groups, races, genders, styles, issues, and relationships.” Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., Health Professions Division Chancellor