Dear Fellow HUCM alumni and friends,

It is with great pleasure and humility that I take the office and duties of HUMAA President. I can truly say it's an honor and a privilege. Howard University College of Medicine has given me the opportunity of a lifetime to fulfill my childhood dream of being a physician to those in need of my services as a trauma surgeon. For that I am truly blessed. I stand on the shoulders of some true giants in Medicine, who have served as President of our Board in years past. I will always strive to the high standards placed before me.

HUMAA has made extraordinary progress under the leadership of our immediate past President, Connie Swiner III, M.D., my esteemed classmate from HUCM Class of 1985. We have appointed a new Executive Director, Ms. Philippa Moore, hired a new financial management firm to guide us in maintaining and growing our over $2.5 million endowment fund, promoted and forged closer ties to the College of Medicine, its students and alumni. I firmly believe that we have a clear path to taking our august organization to the next level and beyond.

Some of you are asking what that next level may be. I can only rely on the vision I possess and that of the Executive Board, for whom I serve. But suffice to say that further development of our endowment to provide even more numerous and greater scholarship funding to our students, more value-added benefits to our alumni, more opportunities for alumni reunion, continued efforts to mentor students and our young alumni are in the picture. These efforts and many more are part of our mission to be a premier and cutting edge alumni association.

I am ever thankful to my parents and family, who had faith and confidence in me when I embarked on a six year B.S.-M.D. at Howard, not so many years ago. I went on to become the first physician in my family. This is a story repeated over and over again at HUCM. I am also most indebted to my wife of 25 years, and my two children, Blair and Kevin, II, for their humbling support, guidance and permission for me to embark on this journey with all of you. Your continued generosity and support of our great institution is essential to HUMAA reaching its fullest potential.

Sincerely,
Kevin J. Mitchell, M.D.
President