We Can Go Far | A Message from the Dean

Every day in our clinics, we open our doors to care for patients, and to teach students and residents, and to engage in research that we hope will bring better health to someone in the world. The critical word in that sentence is “we.” There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” In order for us to achieve all of the great things that we are called to achieve in patient care, in research and discovery, in community engagement, in educating students and residents, and in improving the health of Minnesotans, we must work together.

Working together requires us to foster an environment of respect and civility. We should do this because every single person in our organization is important. It does not matter what our assigned task is; it is important to the success of the School of Dentistry that everyone feels a sense of belonging. Every day we must remind ourselves and remind one another that you are important. The work that you will do today is important. Therefore, our goal is to create an environment that helps you feel valued and respected. Every student, staff, faculty, patient, and visitor into our space should feel valued and respected. As a member of the School of Dentistry community I extol you to do your very best every day to create this type of environment.

I know that some days we will fall short, but we should get up and start again in creating a humanistic environment. The School of Dentistry should be a place that is so special that we want our family to be treated here, and we want our friends to work here, and we want our kids to attend here. As we prepare for full in-person school starting in August, let us remember that we are a team, and we are creating the best dental school that we can be. Each of us has a role to play, and I want to thank you for doing your best to make every single person in our building feel like they belong at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.

Let’s go far together.