Nor was the Ambulatory Surgery Center or the new clinic entrance. Organizationally, the health system didn't exist when I left. Ten years from now there may be other changes in the physical plant or the organization that I can't foresee now. But, when I returned I recognized a lot of people, and that is good. It is the faculty that provides continuity to the School of Medicine.
Students come and go.
Residents come and go. But the lifeblood of this place is our faculty. I truly believe that the School of Medicine will be as strong or as weak as our faculty. So we want to retain the outstanding members of the faculty. And they can stay for a surprisingly long time - after all, I spent 21 years at Duke, longer than anywhere else I have ever lived.