In reviewing the stories within this magazine, I am struck by the far-reaching impact of our faculty members. Whether being honored by colleagues around the world, winning highly competitive NIH grants or publishing studies that advance their fields, our brilliant physicians and researchers have put EVMS on the map.

Let me start with "one of the most influential leaders in all of American academic medicine," according to one of his peers. Our renowned Chair of Surgery, L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, became the first EVMS physician elected to the elite National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in medicine. Learn why Dr. Britt merits the distinction of being NAM's first acute-care specialty surgeon.

EVMS' much-lauded ultrasound leader, Alfred Abuhamad, MD, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, earned more acclaim when a book he co-authored was named Medical Book of the Year by the British Medical Association. Paul Marik, MBBCh, Chief of national honor to the five major teaching awards he already holds. And a team led by John Semmes, PhD, Director of the Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, won a $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue the center’s research on a prostate-cancer biomarker.

While awards and accolades are appreciated, their ultimate purpose is to move EVMS toward improving health and saving more lives in our community. Artina Slaughter's story is a good example of how EVMS makes that kind of difference. Yet we know this is only possible with your continued support and generosity. On behalf of everyone at EVMS, I thank you.