More than 50 years ago, Mount Sinai founded a progressive medical school, attracting a cadre of visionary students with a trailblazing mindset. These students helped lay the foundation for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, now regarded as one of the preeminent leaders in science and medicine, enjoying its standing as a global model for innovation in medical education, research, patient care, and community engagement.
When this first group of intrepid scholars walked into the cozy garage in which they were going to spend so many hours together, none of them really knew what to expect. To their good fortune, they encountered a wonderfully varied group of dedicated, enthusiastic, extraordinary clinicians, scientists, and academicians who, by devoting so much of their creativity and time to furthering medical education, went on to become their mentors, role models, and often friends.
In the clinical years, this group grew to appreciate how medicine is both an art and a science, and that to deliver compassionate and effective healthcare, they had to understand and treat each illness in the context of the whole person, and sometimes their family, and even community. Some followed in the footsteps of their great instructors and researchers, making significant contributions to medical science and education. Others were inspired by their exceptional clinical teachers to deliver the highest standard of patient care.
The year 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the first four-year class to graduate, and while our 2022 celebrations were constrained due to pandemic protocols, Mount Sinai chose to recognize this historic milestone with a system-wide campaign that culminated in a slate of in-person events in the spring of 2023. It was an honor to celebrate this pioneering group and the evolution of the Mount Sinai community into the pillar of excellence in science and medicine that it has become!
