A Message of Gratitude to TCU

On behalf of all at the Burnett School of Medicine, I want to share a heartfelt thank you to TCU, our university that has embraced and supported our School, launching it on a trajectory of great opportunity and hope.

As the School has now graduated two classes of newly minted MDs, it is moving to its new home on Rosedale Street in the heart of the medical district. This is our school’s third home since its beginning just eight short years ago – and as the saying goes, the third time is the charm. As much as we miss not being part of the beautiful fabric of TCU’s main campus, we are now in our community of brethren who deliver health care for all in our city and beyond.

Starting a new medical school is not for the faint of heart, whether for a university or those who start with a vision to graduating doctors. From our start, we were embraced with support and encouragement from many at TCU, with Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., empowering the vision that the medical school should dream big, looking past the obstacles and peering over the horizon to help lead the future of health care. President Daniel Pullin has continued his support and collaboration from his transition from dean to president.  Early in the School’s youth, former Vice Chancellor for Finance at TCU, Brian Gutierrez, facilitated impressive visioning anticipating the need and location for the permanent home for the Burnett School of Medicine. And wonderfully, his successor, Bill Nunez has been critical to our getting to this moment in time. For more than two years, the Facilities team, including Todd Waldvogel, Jason Soileau and Jack Washington, among so many others, have accepted, and dare I share endured, embracing the wishes and needs of all who will use the building, evolving from structural concepts to function in our mission to train the next generation of physicians. And I would be remiss if I didn’t offer immense appreciation and respect to two colleagues who were the liaisons and ‘negotiators’ among the many interested parties, Brooke Ruesch and Judy Bernas. Much of what they have done falls into the last role in their job description, namely ‘duties as otherwise assigned.’

Recognizing I can’t mention all who have played significant roles in getting our medical school to this seminal moment, including Trustees, Cabinet members and every college at TCU, we at the medical school want to share our immense appreciation to all at our University and although a few miles away from the main campus, we not only feel we are an integral part of TCU, we are so proud to carry the TCU name and excellence as the first site not on the main campus.

As we work diligently to validate TCU and the Chancellor’s audacious dream to start a medical school, and now with President Pullin and Provost Floyd Wormley’s leadership, please accept our sincere respect and thank you as we move into our new home with pride to be of value to our University and community.

Stuart D. Flynn, M.D.

Founding Dean