Letter from Sarah Creekmore Woodall
Greetings, Vandy Med alumni!
The Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Association board of directors gathered on campus last fall for its annual meeting where we discussed and approved our current strategic plan. Our future goals will focus on the following areas: Communications, Experiences, Operations and Volunteer Opportunities. Board committees have been established to help guide and advise as we advance our association’s progress in each of these areas.
The COMMUNICATIONS committee is taking a closer look at our current strategies and exploring innovative ways to enhance and elevate our alumni connections. In 2023 we launched a quarterly e-newsletter, VMAA Vitals, another resource to keep you informed of the latest alumni information and highlights. We’re increasing our presence on several social media platforms, so look for more posts and updates on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Please check your mailbox for a few occasional, but strategic, mailed communications. Providing you with opportunities to share your success stories with fellow alumni allows us to celebrate you both personally and professionally, so when your email or home address changes, please reach out and let us know!
This is a big year for alumni EXPERIENCES. We’re currently finalizing all the details for our upcoming VUSM Reunion Weekend, November 7-9. There will be dedicated celebrations for all classes ending in -3, -4, -8, -9, as well as all classes from 1975 and prior, but all graduates are welcome back to campus for this exciting weekend. If you are in one of these specific reunion classes, you should have already received both an email and postcard save the date. If you didn’t, please scan the QR code below to be sure we have your updated contact information.
Our OPERATIONS committee wants to make sure that we are meeting the needs and expectations of our alumni population in the best way possible. Later this year we will roll out an all-alumni survey to help gauge your satisfaction with and interest in connecting with the VMAA.
Our VOLUNTEER committee is working on developing a variety of opportunities for our alumni to share their time and expertise with current VUSM students and trainees. We’ve heard from many of you that you are interested in getting involved, and we are considering how best to offer these opportunities across a variety of interests and skills.
Have you heard that VUSM turns 150 in 2025? Following Vanderbilt University’s 2023 sesquicentennial, VUSM now has its own turn to celebrate! Look for more information to come on programming and celebration details marking this incredible milestone in the history of 150 years of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
It’s an exciting time to be part of the VMAA, as we look at all that we offer to our 23,000-plus constituents! We want to ensure we continue to respond to your needs. If you have thoughts on how we can engage with you, please reach out. My contact information is listed below.
If you are not receiving our VMAA Vitals newsletters, email us at medalum@vanderbilt.edu.