In a yearly tradition, the Department of Internal Medicine once again invited its emeritus faculty members to a midday gathering. The luncheon serves many purposes. It gives the department a chance to thank faculty for their years of service. It gives faculty a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues they do not see on a regular basis. It also gives the department an opportunity to remind its greatest resource—their experience and wisdom—that the lines of communication are open.

This year’s event was no exception. Tucked into the President’s Skybox in Kinnick Stadium, about 30 attendees were treated to a view both of the construction progress on the stadium’s north end as well as the east wall renovations under the “wave” windows of the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Guests chatted, sharing stories of recent travels or updates on children and grandchildren, before gathering for a group photo.

As the meal came to a close, Department Chair Dr. Dale Abel rose to address the attendees. He gave a brief update on successes the department has seen in the last year, rises in national rankings for both the research and educational missions, while high standards for clinical care are maintained as it expands. These successes did not happen overnight, Dr. Abel explained, but are a realization of decades of careful work and a passing-down of values and tradition from one generation to the next. “We are where we are today because of you,” he told the group.

A special thank you to those members who joined us for lunch last week, to the UI Center for Advancement for organizing the event, and to Kinnick Stadium for hosting.