Dean's Message - October 3, 2022

Dear GSBS Community,

I’m writing this from the American Association of Medical College’s annual meeting on graduate education (GREAT) in Chicago. This meeting brings together Deans, Postdoc Officers and MD/PhD directors to share best practices and brainstorm how to increase the success of biomedical scientist training at our institutions. This is the first time the meeting has been held in person since the pandemic, and it is a joy to see friends and colleagues. 

This year’s theme is the biomedical workforce. There have been sessions on mentor matching, the aging workforce and how we train across the different career paths. An underlying concern is the stress the last two years have placed on our students (and faculty). Today marks the beginning of National Mental Illness Awareness Week, and Tufts is offering a number of events, including a CELT workshop on building resilient spaces and a week of PHPD programming. Graduate training over the last couple of years has been challenging, and this week is a good time to reflect on the resilience you have used to thrive during these times. Always remember that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help in difficult times. I encourage you to take advantage of our wellness and mental health support services.

Best,

Dan Jay, Dean