I would like to wish everyone at the College of Medicine a happy, safe and restful holiday. I also want to thank you for all of your work during this very busy fall, and throughout 2016. We have accomplished a lot and the holidays provide a great opportunity to step away, rest and rejuvenate for an exciting new year in 2017—just around the corner.

We have made strides across many important initiatives, from UGME accreditation and college strategic planning to our biomedical sciences restructuring and building our research capacity. Our work to re-engage our alumni included a fall 2016 edition of Connective Issue.

We gathered and cheered resident and student achievements at events including the PGME Celebration Night, Fall Formal and the White Coat Ceremony. We worked and built relationships with our students serving on the SMSS. Although not completed, we have thus far navigated the student double cohort, thanks to the efforts of faculty, students, staff and partners in healthcare to make this as smooth as possible.

All in all, throughout the past year, working together we have developed stronger relationships across the college, and will continue to do so. We have much ahead of us, and I look forward to working alongside all of you in 2017.

But first, enjoy a very well-deserved break!