In 1849, the renowned German doctor Rudolf Virchow said, “If medicine is really to accomplish its great task, it must intervene in political and social life. It must point out the hindrances that impede the normal social functioning of vital processes, and effect their removal.”

More than 160 years later, in keeping with the notion that physician responsibilities extend far beyond the stethoscope, a group of UConn School of Medicine students organized a “2011 Leaders in Medicine Meet and Greet.” The goal was to encourage enthusiasm, inspiration, and leadership within current and future medical professionals.

A highlight of the Sept. 26 event was a Leaders in Medicine Award presented to Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, who recently stepped down as dean of the UConn School of Medicine to continue conducting research, mentoring, and providing clinical care, while serving as CEO of the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.

“With this award, we wanted to identify an individual who has exemplified leadership and who has been a strong advocate for students,” said Luis Daniel Munoz Jr., one of the organizers of the event.

Laurencin is the first Leaders in Medicine Award recipient given by UConn medical students, Munoz noted, adding that Laurencin’s vision and leadership has firmly placed the Health Center on course for a strong future.

Laurencin said he was honored and touched to be recognized by UConn’s medical student body. His mentoring achievements have been recognized nationally. In 2010, he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in ceremonies at the White House.

In addition to Munoz, organizers of the Meet and Greet event included Raymond Lorenzon and Clifford Locke, all of whom are MD candidates and leaders of UConn’s American Medical Association Student Chapter. Munoz, the public relations and recruitment officer for the chapter, publicized the event as an opportunity to connect past, present, and future leaders.

“Medical students by necessity have to focus so much of their efforts on the science of medicine and its associated course materials,” Munoz explained. “We hoped that this event would provide students with the courage to effect further change in organized medicine. There will always be scientific rules and theories we need to know and guidelines to adhere to, but we must be willing to step outside the box and question what we’re doing to sustain the system and, subsequently, protect our patients.”

Among other distinguished guests at the event were Dr. Michael Banks, a UConn School of Medicine alumni and co-founder of The Doctor’s Channel; Dr. Bruce T. Liang, director of the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center and Interim Dean of the School of Medicine; Dr. Neil Brooks, past president of the American Academy of Family Physicians; and Dr. Paul R. Skolnik, founder of the Center for HIV/AIDS Care and Research at Boston Medical Center and the new chairman of the Health Center’s Department of Medicine.

Banks told the group that “leaders need to challenge ordinary thought.” Munoz said one of the goals of the event was to encourage professionalism and a sense of risk-taking in today’s medical students, because improvements in medicine will not happen without that. “Healthcare is evolving and is in constant flux,” he said. “Because of this, our concept of leadership is also changing. We must be willing to move forward and adopt multifaceted leadership roles in our communities and profession. Inaction is not good for patient care.”

The Meet and Greet was the first of its kind, but Munoz hopes the trend toward a more global view of medicine will continue. “Our goal is to encourage a culture of professionalism and leadership,” he said. “As medical providers we’re always taking histories, but there’s a past professional history within medicine that also needs to be examined. We need to work together to find better ways of encouraging students to be proactive, in order to effect changes for the better in our profession.”

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