Dear Alumni,

You may have heard from UF President Kent Fuchs that the university embarked on an exciting new journey in the fall that we have all been asked to join. To better serve its public mission and to ensure the University of Florida continues to help our state, nation and world overcome our most pressing challenges, UF launched the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the university’s history, the Go Greater campaign.

With an impressive goal to raise $3 billion, the campaign will fundamentally transform our university for decades to come, and at the UF College of Medicine, it will have a profound impact on our alma mater’s ability to move medicine forward and improve the lives of so many.

From making discoveries that improve our understanding of disorders like diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease to educating the next generation of physicians, biomedical scientists and physician assistants, the faculty, researchers and students at the UF College of Medicine have a proud tradition of innovation and leadership. Their work has defined the college’s reputation and changed the art and science of medicine.

Right now, the UF College of Medicine is at a crossroads in its history. A quality medical education is cost-intensive, and scholarship makes a tremendous difference in attracting the brightest students to become the physicians of tomorrow. The college also looks to hire faculty who are leaders in their field, ready to teach and treat, to mentor and heal.

If you are like me, you have immense pride in the accomplishments made at the UF College of Medicine and by our fellow alumni around the country. That is why I invite you to join me and others to help elevate the work of our students and faculty. From creating a financial bedrock through endowed scholarships to enhancing patient care for tomorrow to providing the resources to recruit and retain nationally recognized faculty, the UF College of Medicine is poised to Go Greater with our help.

As always, thanks for all you do as ambassadors and supporters of the UF College of Medicine. Booker T. Washington said, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” This embodies our spirit and belief at UF. I look forward to hearing from all of you soon. Go Gators!

All the best,
James B. Duke, MD
Class of 1985
President, UF College of Medicine Alumni Board of Directors