Dean and Distinguished Professor Jack D. Sobel, M.D., wife Audrey Sobel, and retired Professor Harry Maisel, M.B., Ch.B., arrive at the 150th anniversary celebration on Sept. 22.
More than 800 people took a journey back in time to celebrate 150 years of clinical excellence, research innovation and community outreach at the Wayne State University School of Medicine's Sesquicentennial Celebration Gala, held Sept. 22 at the MGM Grand Detroit.
The event, emceed by Detroit television news veteran Amyre Makupson, provided an opportunity for guests to reflect and recognize the School of Medicine's dedication to the city of Detroit through historic displays honoring African-American history, research discoveries and the impact the school has on the community. Guests were treated to strolling appetizers, dinner and dancing, with live music provided by the band Fifty Amp Fuse.
The school was founded in 1868 by five physicians who took to heart the crude medical treatment they witnessed on Civil War battlefields. They banded together to dedicate themselves to advancing health education and care, and founded the Detroit Medical College in Detroit. Today, the School of Medicine is part of Wayne State University, a premier research institution composed of 12 additional schools and colleges in Detroit.
Other significant moments in Wayne State's history are shared on the university's Sesquicentennial website, and also includes details about the school's beginnings.
"Today we honor their vision by maintaining that faith and by fanning the flame they ignited," said School of Medicine Dean and Distinguished Professor Jack D. Sobel, M.D. "We are not celebrating a simple chronology. We are celebrating a long and proud tradition of producing world-class physicians and medical researchers, and pioneering changes in medical treatment."
Through social responsiveness and a continuous focus on innovation in education, research and clinical care, the School of Medicine continues to graduate a diverse group of physicians and biomedical scientists who go on to transform the promise of access to equal health care for all into a reality.
The School of Medicine has graduated 18,086 physicians in its 150 years. Today, 22,000 alumni, medical doctors and medical researchers are changing the world through care and innovation in every state and in 30 nations.
Closer to home, more than 30 percent of all practicing physicians in Michigan, and nearly 50 percent of those practicing in the tri-county area, received all or part of their medical training, including residency, at the School of Medicine.
Proceeds from the gala will support the many student organizations that work to address health disparities and enhance health equity.
"Our location in the heart of Detroit provides students the opportunity to experience the hands-on, frontline needs of an urban population suffering from decades of health disparities, and the chance to do something about those inequities. Our students tell us that they also choose WSU because they want more than a medical education; they desire to dig into the community and help its people, even before receiving their medical degrees," Dr. Sobel said.
The gala also honored distinguished alumni and community members with the 2018 Ambassador, Trailblazer and Distinguished Community Service awards. These individuals were nominated by their peers and selected by a distinguished committee from the field of nominees.
Ambassador Award: Pranatharthi Chandrasekar, M.D.
The Ambassador Award honors individuals or corporations who, through acts and deeds, epitomize the spirit of Wayne State University and the School of Medicine. Pranatharthi Chandrasekar, M.D., known as "Dr. Chandra" to his colleagues and students, has been an invaluable member of the School of Medicine faculty since 1983. A professor of Internal Medicine and infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Chandrasekar has been praised by his peers, mentees and patients for his vision and zeal for humanitarian concerns. He resides in Grosse Pointe Farms.
Trailblazer Award: James Collins, M.D. '49
The Trailblazer Award celebrates the rich tradition of Wayne State University School of Medicine innovators. The award recognizes alumni and faculty who, through their perseverance and dedication, have forged paths through previously unexplored territory to become pioneers in their field of medicine and medical research. A 1949 alumnus of Wayne State University, James Collins, M.D., has continuously played an integral role in the profession of Pediatrics and social justice. After receiving his medical degree in 1953 from the University of Michigan, Dr. Collins completed an internship at St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing and a residency in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Michigan. He resides in Detroit.
Trailblazer Award: George Dean, M.D. '56
George Dean, M.D., received an undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in 1953 and his medical degree from the School of Medicine in 1956. Dr. Dean is considered one of the founding fathers of the Family Medicine specialty. After joining the Wayne State University School of Medicine as a clinical faculty member, he worked with his colleagues to establish the American Board of Family Practice, known today as the American Board of Family Medicine. He resides in Bloomfield Hills.
Distinguished Community Service Award: Arash Javanbakht, M.D.
The Distinguished Community Service Award is given to an individual, community organization or corporation who has made major contributions to humanitarian causes or who demonstrate dedication to directly impacting and improving the community. Arash Javanbakht, M.D., is an assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. He resides in Ann Arbor.