The mood was bright, the weather was sunny and the masks were entirely optional for the Class of 2023's recognition and hooding ceremonies.

“Suffice it to say this has been an unusual academic journey,” Robert D. Simari, M.D., executive vice chancellor for KU Medical Center, told the Class of 2023. “But you have demonstrated that a global pandemic could not stop you from making it to this day and launching your career.”

The medical students in the Class of 2023 began their first year of medical school in a world before lockdown. In their fourth and final year, they graduated only three days after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Launched 16 years ago in response to one resident physician asking how to get a manuscript published — a dive into “Tetanus: The Forgotten Disease” — the Kansas Journal of Medicine received 117 submissions last year of original research, reviews, commentaries and case studies.

“Our objectives benefit the school, faculty and learners, and to me that’s the real benefit of having a school-based journal,” said K. James Kallail, associate dean of research and managing editor at the Kansas Journal of Medicine at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. “You can literally get international attention for your research and make the next step in your education or career.”

Fifth-graders from Park Elementary School visited the Simulation Center at KU School of Medicine-Wichita in May, interacting with high-tech manikins, caring for infant manikins and learning about CPR. This year marks KU School of Medicine-Wichita's 25th year of partnership with Park Elementary and Wichita USD 259.

Each spring, the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion honors an individual and a group for creating a more culturally diverse, competent and inclusive KU Medical Center community in alignment with its core value statement. Colleen Loo-Gross, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, was recently chosen as the individual winner.

Although Eden Quispe, Grace Griffith and Dale Boztas were raised in Sedgwick County, the three sisters have traveled extensively overseas which often plays a part in their artwork. The sisters will each have artwork on display in a new exhibit opening June 2 during First Friday at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

Tiffany Schwasinger-Schmidt, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in Internal Medicine and director of the KU Wichita Center for Clinical Research, was honored to give the commencement speech to this year’s graduating class at Goodland High School, where she graduated valedictorian in 2003.

KU School of Medicine-Wichita students gave 29 presentations to 957 fourth- through sixth-grade students in Sedgwick County during the 2022-2023 school year, educating youth on the dangers of using electronic cigarettes. The program, called "Dark Vapor," was developed by medical students in the Family Medicine Interest Group. Youth observed healthy, pink pig lungs alongside blackened pig lungs that had been enclosed with vape smoke.

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