Photo By Andrew Damstedt | Outgoing Uniformed Services University (USU) President Dr. Charles L. Rice delivers...... read more read more
At his final town hall as president of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Dr. Charles L. Rice reflected on his 11 years at the helm and projected a bright future ahead for the military medical school.
Rice became the university’s fifth president in 2005 at a time when he said there were questions as to whether the university was a necessary institution.
“Today, that question is not on the table,” Rice said. “Today it is assumed that USU is essential. We are growing, steadily improving and leading. Our imprint on military medicine and public health is recognized and is taken as a given that we will be educating, discovering and innovating and serving for decades to come.”
Another reflection of Rice’s involved the many handshakes he’s given as university president, including with members of Congress, government officials, senior members of the Armed Forces and dignitaries of other nations.
“I’ve shaken hands with our faculty and staff as they’ve joined the USU community and when they’ve moved on,” Rice said. “I’ve shaken people’s hands for awards, promotions, and changes of commands.”
But, he said, the most solemn and rewarding experience is when he gives handshakes at USU’s commencement.
“Over these 11 years, I’ve stood on stages and I’ve conferred degrees to literally thousands of extraordinary men and women who have devoted their lives to care for others,” Rice said. “From those stages, USU alumni have deployed to some of the most challenging and dangerous environments in the world caring for countless thousands of wounded and sick members of the U.S. and Allied Forces.”
He called it an extraordinary privilege to lead USU and highlighted some accomplishments that have happened during his tenure. Some endeavors he mentioned were an increase in cutting-edge research at USU, creation and expansion of the Postgraduate Dental College and establishment of the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program.
“We’ve assembled an extraordinary leadership team, including new deans in the School of Medicine, Graduate School of Nursing and Postgraduate Dental College,” he said. “We’ve established a fully-accredited branch of the campus in San Antonio and now a new site in San Diego. We’ve expanded our international linkages and established a center for global health engagement in support of combatant commanders.”
His last day as president is set for July 24 and incoming president, retired Army Maj. Gen. Richard Thomas, will have his first day July 25.
“What an extraordinary privilege it has been to lead this university,” Rice said.
A reception honoring Rice is set for June 30 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the USU dining room.
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2016 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 202904 |
| Location: | BETHESDA, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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