As I complete my first year as president of the MGH Institute, I’ve taken some time to reflect on the challenges and opportunities I faced over the past year and the excitement I feel for the future.
As with any major life transition, I came to the IHP with great excitement and enthusiasm for having the opportunity to join a great institution. I knew the quality of the academic programs by reputation and I was looking forward to the opportunity to dive deeper into the rehabilitation professions of physical, speech, and occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, and genetic counseling, having spent more than 30 years in nursing education. I was thrilled to be living in Boston and I could not think of being in a more beautiful environment than the Navy Yard. It was an honor to be chosen as president but I also understood the deep responsibility that comes with that appointment so I read books such as “On Being Presidential” and “How to Run a College.” I also knew I had a lot to learn about communicating and working with the Board of Trustees.
With that excitement and enthusiasm came a whole host of anxieties and fears. Would I be able to make the change from rural Pennsylvania to living in the city? How would I be accepted into this community? Would I love this new role and feel like I was contributing in a meaningful way? Would I have an opportunity to engage with faculty, staff, students, and alumni in ways that make me remember why I love academic administration? Happily, the answer to all these questions is a resounding “Yes!”
We moved close to the IHP so I could walk to work and be a contributing member of the neighborhood. Our new home is great, and we love being integrated into the Charlestown community and close to everything we need. The IHP community welcomed me with open arms and you have embraced me as one of your own. This a unique and very special group of incredible individuals who share a common purpose and mission that bind us together, but it’s each individual’s commitment to the values of respect, collegiality, and community that makes this such a very special place. As the year has progressed, I have come to understand more clearly the president’s role and have embraced both the ceremonial aspects as well as the projects that let me roll up my sleeves and get immersed in the work of the organization.
Being new gave me a certain license to reach out to people in Greater Boston and I have enjoyed taking the IHP’s message to many individuals and organizations during the past year. I discovered the school’s mission is often misunderstood or unknown, and this issue is being addressed with the current branding review. I was most pleased to learn that I have the opportunity to have meaningful engagement with students, staff and faculty, both informally and in formal settings. I started my career as a faculty member because I wanted to work with students. I then became a dean because I wanted to foster the work of faculty and staff. So now as president, I looked forward to interacting in a meaningful way with the IHP community.
As my second year begins, I am excited about the future. The Institute continues its tradition of academic excellence, and we are excited for the opening of the genetic counseling program in the fall of 2019. Our new bold and innovative 2018 – 2022 Strategic Plan will take us in some new directions and add strength to some areas where we have solid foundations. But I am mostly grateful to have joined this wonderful community of scholars, students, staff, and graduates who have allowed me to be their partner in the Institute’s work. It’s been a great year, and I look forward to many more to come.