Winter/Spring 2012

Dear Readers,

We were ready to go to press with this issue when the biggest
story in the history of the university unfolded in Atlanta on Jan. 10.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents' vote to
consolidate Georgia Health Sciences University with Augusta State University is clearly the most monumental development to occur at either institution.

At this stage in the process, questions outnumber answers.
However, we hope to provide you with a more complete report in our next edition of GHSU Today.

Of course, at some point, possibly as early as next year, this
magazine will no longer be called GHSU Today. The creation of an entirely new university with an entirely new name requires an entirely new magazine.

As I ponder what this publication will look like years from now, I
reflect on the recent gift of several bound editions of this magazine's first decade. Christine Deriso, who very ably edited this publication for many years, found the books when the Division of Communications and Marketing staff moved into new offices in September.

Though the editions are archived in other places, such as the Greenblatt Library, the thought of having this treasure trove of history at my fingertips was too good to pass up. I flipped through the annuals, starting with the inaugural Summer 1970 edition of MCG Today, featuring then-President Harry O'Rear on the cover.

What stands out are the wonderful feature stories, such as the profiles on MCG's first female student, Dr. Loree Florence ('26), and its oldest living alumnus, the then-92 year old Dr. Hugh N. Bussey ('08). The magazines are also an indicator that no matter how times change, the needs and demands of this institution largely remain the same. Consider the first sentence from the Fall 1970 cover story: "The problems of health care in Georgia today are serious, complex and costly." Nothing has changed in the 41 years since then-Editor James C. Austin signed off on that page.

Lastly, the back issues are a reminder that today's reality is yesterday's vision. Many of this institution's strengths and
weaknesses are the result of decisions made in years past. My hope is that decades from now my successors can look out over a globally recognized institution – what President Ricardo Azziz calls the "great American university."

Perhaps they, too, will stumble across a bunch of old magazines and see how it all began.

Damon Cline, Editor

MCG Today welcomes submissions to the Reflections column. Typed essays (approx. 750 words) reflecting a professional or personal experience should be submitted to: Damon Cline, Editor Georgia Health Sciences University FI-1044 Augusta, GA 30912 dcline@georgiahealth.edu 706-721-4706 phone