The Academic Year Class of 2007-2008 began with 18 students. Five students chose to do their work at various research institutes and medical schools in the San Diego/La Jolla area of southern California. The lure of spending bright sunny days near the Pacific Ocean must have been a powerful draw for them. However, they had to endure several early Fall days of fires threatening many communities in a large part of the San Diego area, with evacuation orders for several thousands of the residents. Luckily, none of them had to evacuate their homes.

Other students chose parts of the U.S. and Canada that are more noted for cold winters. The excellence of the programs that they found at their medical schools or research institutes made up for the cold and snowy weather that they endured. In addition, several of these students were working in laboratories headed by BMEP alumni. Some of these alumni were able to attend the FORUM, and also spoke about their research work and their experiences of living full-time in the U.S.

We are once again indebted to the staff at the School of Medicine at the University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT. Dean of the School of Medicine, Peter Deckers, M.D., greeted the students and guests for the last time. He is retiring from his position at the end of the current academic year. Ralph Arcari, Ph.D. spoke to the students about the history of medicine. In addition, Keat Sanford, Ph.D., the Student Affairs Officer at the University, spoke to the students about the cost a getting a medical degree in the U.S.

We were sorry to learn of the death of a former Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Connecticut, Robert U. Massey, M.D., who died in February of 2008. He was a great friend and supporter of the BMEP program, going back to the late 1970s, when John Boylan, M.D. of the School of Medicine at Farmington and Hilmar Stolte, M.D. of the Hannover Medical School in Germany began their plans for the program that is now BMEP. In 2009 we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the program.

With thanks to all who make my job so much easier,

Laurie B. Williams
U.S. Program Coordinator