Sesquicentennial Signature Events
Shiffman Library Sesquicentennial Exhibits
- Shiffman Library Exhibit: African-American History - Feb. 1-28
Warrior Medicine Turning Points: The extraordinary journey of African-American men and women in Detroit
In observance of Black History Month, there was an exhibit celebrating the significant contributions of African-Americans to the university's School of Medicine, which was founded in 1868 as the Detroit Medical College and graduated its first African-American student a year later.
"Warrior Medicine Turning Points: The Extraordinary Journey of African-American Men and Women in Detroit," celebrates the important role of African-Americans in the school's 150-year history. The exhibit was displayed in the library's common areas throughout the month of February.
The WSU School of Medicine was founded in 1868 by five Civil War veteran physicians. At the same time, the first medical school in the county that was open to all people, Howard University Medical Department, opened in Washington, D.C., under the direction of Civil War veteran and Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau Gen. Oliver Howard. One year later, in 1869, the Detroit Medical College and Howard University graduated their first African-American physicians.
- Warrior Medicine Impact: Compassion-driven care makes equal health care a reality for all, July 2018
In celebration of the Wayne State University School of Medicine's 150th anniversary celebration, the Shiffman Medical Library will host "Warrior Medicine Impact: Compassion-driven care makes equal health care a reality for all" throughout the month of July.
This is the second of three exhibits the School of Medicine will present in 2018 to observe the sesquicentennial anniversary.
The exhibit will use photography and storytelling to capture the spirit of the school's dedication to community service and urban clinical excellence, made possibly by its students, faculty and staff who volunteer and coordinate a variety of community outreach projects in the city of Detroit and beyond. Examples include Street Medicine Detroit, the Robert R. Frank Student Run Free Clinic (the first of its kind in the state), the Cass Clinic, the Diabetes Education and Wellness Clinic, the Community Homeless Interprofessional Clinic and more.
- Warrior Medicine Innovators: Discoveries that change lives, October 2018
In celebration of the Wayne State University School of Medicine's 150th anniversary celebration, the Shiffman Medical Library will host "Warrior Medicine Impact: Discoveries that change lives" throughout the month of October.
This is the final of three exhibits the School of Medicine will present in 2018 to observe the sesquicentennial anniversary.
The exhibit will highlight the groundbreaking and impactful research discoveries made by scientists at the School of Medicine since its founding in 1868, including the discovery of the drug AZT as one of the first successful medical treatments for HIV and AIDS; the discovery of a balloon device for angioplasty, the use of a low-cost, patient-applied gel to reduce the risk of premature births, the discovery of zinc's role in the human diet, an algae that can restore vision and more.
Past Events
We are delighted to continue celebrating 150 years of excellence with you throughout 2018. In the meantime, please take a moment to view some of our past 150th-based events and photo galleries below, and be sure to join us throughout the year at upcoming SOM and campus-wide events.
- Frontiers in Medicine and Science Symposium - October 17
The Wayne State University School of Medicine hosted its final sesquicentennial signature event Oct. 17, held in celebration of 150 years of academic research and clinical care excellence in the heart of Detroit. Nearly 250 attended the Frontiers in Medicine and Science symposium, featuring plenary presentations from six nationally renowned speakers leading the way in the future of medicine and science, as well as poster-based research presentations from a select group of School of Medicine graduate students well on their way to becoming the next generation's scientific pioneers.
Introduction by Dean Jack D. Sobel, M.D., and Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Programs Linda Hazlett, Ph.D. Warrior Medicine Innovators by Vice President for Research Stephen Lanier, Ph.D.
The following is a list of the day's distinguished speakers, topics and links to presentations:
Mina Bissell, Ph.D. (Breast Cancer)
Distinguished Scientist, Biological Systems and Engineering
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Why Don't We Get More Cancer: The Importance of Extracellular Matrix and Organ Architecture
Helen Mayberg, M.D. (Neurosciences)
Director of the Center for Advanced Circuit Therapeutics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, NY
"Tuning Depression Circuits Using Deep Brain Stimulation.
Steven Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D. (Cancer and Immunotherapies)
Chief of the Surgery Branch
National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
"Lymphocytes as a Drug for the Treatment of Cancer"
Paul Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. (Vision Sciences and Ocular Diseases)
Director of the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Human Ocular Gene Therapy: Considerations from X-linked Retinoschisis
Michael Snyder, Ph.D. (Genetics and Other Omics)
Chair of the Department of Genetics
Stanford W. Ascherman Professor
Stanford University
Stanford, California
"Big Data and Health"
Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., M.Sc. (Cardiovascular Disease)
Vice Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
Magerstadt Professor of Medicine
Professor of Medical Social Sciences
Chief of Cardiology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois
Heart Failure in African Americans; a Puzzle Resolved - Sesquicentennial Celebration - September 22
The Wayne State University School of Medicine hosted a black tie gala, A Sesquicentennial Celebration, recognizing our 150-year history of urban clinical excellence and community outreach in the heart of Detroit.
The celebration took place on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at the MGM Grand Detroit. Distinguished alumni and community members were honored for the 2018 Ambassador, Trailblazer and Distinguished Community Service awards.
The Sesquicentennial Celebration Gala was an evening devoted to the reflection and recognition of the Wayne State University School of Medicine and our dedication to the city of Detroit. Proceeds from the gala will support the many student organizations that work to address health disparities and enhance health equity.
Photo Gallery
Photo Booth Pictures - Faculty and Staff Family Day at the Detroit Parade Company - July 29
The School of Medicine hosted a faculty and staff family day at The Parade Company on Sunday, July 29, 2018. The attendees celebrated 150 years in the heart of Detroit while enjoying a great BBQ and entertainment, including tours of the one-of-a-kind parade units, floats and balloons, which have been part of America's Thanksgiving Parade since 1924.
- Detroit Medical Orchestra – Healing through Music – May 4
The Detroit Medical Orchestra gave a special performance at the Country Club of Detroit to commemorate the Wayne State University School of Medicine's sesquicentennial anniversary. The DMO, formed by a group of Wayne State University School of Medicine students and faculty musicians in 2009, is a 70-member orchestra consisting of medical students, medical school faculty, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals who believe music has the power to heal and comfort.
Since 1868, Wayne State University School of Medicine has been home to countless discoveries, memories and milestones that have changed our world for the better. The 150-year history of urban clinical excellence and community outreach complements the mission of the DMO to bring healing through music in the heart of Detroit.
This event was partially sponsored by the Country Club of Detroit as part of its Connoisseur Series, and was hosted by the Wayne State University Medical Alumni Association and Kenneth Honn, Ph.D., distinguished professor of Pathology and of Oncology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and member of the Medical Alumni Board of Governors and the Country Club of Detroit.
- Global and Urban Health Innovation Week – April 30 – May 4
The Global Health Alliance held its first Global and Urban Health Innovation Week April 30-May 4. The week, part of the School of Medicine's year-long 150th anniversary celebration, included a series of events designed to innovate, educate and inspire the world of urban and global health, including a full-day conference, a film screening, a "Shark Tank"-inspired competition and a global fiesta celebration. All events were free, and were attended by many students, staff, faculty and community members throughout Scott Hall and in the community. The alliance serves to unify the various global health silos throughout the university to more efficiently and strategically leverage collective resources for collaboration and transformative solutions.
- Student Community Impact Day - March 8
The Class of 2021 presented more than four dozen assigned group projects at the Wayne State University School of Medicine's inaugural M.D. Student Community Impact Day held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 8 in Mazurek Medical Education Classrooms 240 to 308.
All medical schools in the United States are required by the Association of American Medical Colleges to incorporate service learning into their curriculum in some way, but the School of Medicine takes the requirement several steps further, seeing it as an opportunity to make a real difference in the community through required clinical site volunteering while also bolstering longitudinal mentorship among the four classes, including pairing first-year learning communities with second-year students.
- Student Gala - Feb 26
On the same day as the University's Sesquicentennial kick off, the School of Medicine students celebrated the 150th anniversary at their annual Gala at Detroit's historic Eastern Market, which has been in continuous operation since 1891. The renovated Shed 5 was a unique ambience with touches of urban class and sophistication.
- SOM 150th Kickoff - Jan. 19
The rich history of the Wayne State University School of Medicine was celebrated on Jan. 19 in front of a packed audience of students, faculty and staff at the school's 150th-anniversary kickoff, just one aspect of the evening's festivities – making the annual Ethnic Fair held in the Scott Hall cafeteria a night to remember.
"It celebrates what we're famous for – the diversity of our student body," said School of Medicine Dean Jack D. Sobel, M.D., greeting the crowd after a performance by The Ultrasounds a cappella group. "The anniversary is worth shouting about – 150 years of caring for the residents of Detroit and southeast Michigan.
The evening, a tribute to culture and the Warrior Strong spirit, featured a variety of ethnic cuisine, a cake-cutting ceremony with the student senate presidents of the four medical classes, plus Bollywood dancing, Latin ballroom performances, music by Music in Medicine, traditional Friday night Jewish greetings, a group dance of the Hustle led by the Black Medical Association and more.
The event was co-organized by the Board of Student Organizations, the Office of Student Affairs and the School of Medicine 150th Anniversary Task Force Planning Committee.
Photo Gallery
More information regarding these and other 150 events can be found on the WSU events calendar throughout 2018.