I send warm greetings to everyone in McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, formerly University of Texas Health SBMI Community as we bring 2022 to a close. Please accept my praise and gratitude for your dedication to both the informatics industry and the mission of our school. Despite all that has transpired over the past few years, we all remain resolute in our shared passion for a better tomorrow.
Our school continues to grow and become stronger and better year after year. While the pandemic has been a tiring experience for all, McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics has not only survived, but thrived during this difficult time. I owe that success to each of you.
I can proudly say that both academic enrollment and research expenditures at our school are on the rise. Each semester, we welcome new and returning students to our physical and virtual classrooms. Our staff keeps the school running at optimal conditions with work that is both seen and unseen. Our faculty are engaging in research and training grants that are rapidly advancing the informatics community. Our alumni continue to serve as ambassadors for our school as they fervently serve in hospitals, board rooms, academic institutions, and countless other workplaces around the world.
March of 2023 will mark my tenth year as dean of this exemplary school and serving this community for the past decade has been an honor and privilege. In my eyes, our school is more than a nickname and this school is more than the building in which it is housed. Our school is a beacon for education, collaboration, and innovation. It invites the best and brightest to its doors and I am thankful that you answered the call.
Enjoy a happy, healthy, and joyous holiday season with the people you cherish most. Spend time celebrating treasured traditions as you finish one year and prepare for another. May the beauty and joys of this season stay with you throughout 2023.
Have a beautiful holiday season,
Dean Jiajie Zhang, Ph.D.
The Glassell Family Foundation Distinguished Chair in Informatics Excellence
McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics