Ms. Grossman presented a history of the alumni newsletter and the magazine and explained the reasons behind the 1997 split of the alumni newsletter from the magazine. She stated that the average number of alumni notes grew from 4.5 pages in 1976 to 20 pages in recent years. Interest in the magazine grew beyond the general alumni body, and this is an interest that is important for the institution to foster for reasons ranging from fund-raising, student recruitment and clinical reputation, to enhancing the general understanding of medicine. She noted that the split was not based on cost savings. The same budget for four issues of the magazine in the past can now produce three issues of the newsletter and four issues of the magazine.
Alumni now get both the magazine and the newsletter.
A question and answer period followed her presentation. Council members commented that they like the two separate publications, but would like to see improvements to the newsletter. Dr. Wira added that the newsletter needs a look comparable to the magazine. Dr. Sachs stated that the budget and staffing for the office need to be considered. She remarked that the DMS Publications Office is doing a far greater job than should be expected given its resources.