Thank you, President Callahan. Good morning, everyone. Like our distinguished guests and my fellow regents, I am thrilled to celebrate the University of the Pacific School of Medicine and all it promises for our university and region.

As we celebrate Pacific’s 175th anniversary and a century in Stockton, we are reminded that our history has always been defined by innovation, leadership and service. I believe the School of Medicine will stand as one of the university’s defining achievements for the next 175 years.

This school will be the first MD-granting medical school in the San Joaquin Valley and the first new non-profit medical school in Northern California since the 1960s. But being first is part of Pacific’s identity. We are California’s oldest university and the first co-educational institution of higher education on the West Coast. We established the first Conservatory of Music west of the Mississippi, and through the Community Involvement Program became the first university in the nation to offer a comprehensive scholarship for students from its host city.

Our connection to medical education also runs deep. In 1858, Pacific established the first medical school in the Western United States. Although that effort was short-lived, it reflected an early understanding that Pacific had an important role to play in advancing health care. Today, that legacy is visible across our health programs. The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is nationally recognized for excellence and humanistic, affordable care. The Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy is known for strong research, experiential learning and community outreach. The School of Health Sciences continues to expand health programs that meet the needs of our communities.

Together, these schools improve lives every day and provide a strong foundation for this next step. At the undergraduate level, Pacific also prepares hundreds of students in biology, biochemistry and related disciplines for medical careers. It is exciting to imagine many of those students—especially those from our region—earning their MDs here and then serving the communities that shaped them.

This moment is especially meaningful to me because my life and my family’s history have been deeply shaped by Pacific’s decision to make Stockton its home. My family has deep roots in this city and longstanding ties to the university. We have seen what is possible when Pacific and this community work together. Local partners helped bring Pacific to Stockton in 1924, and that same spirit of partnership continues to strengthen the student experience and advance the university’s growth. We will need our community to support this new School of Medicine in order for it be successful. 

Next month, I will complete my service as Chair of the Board of Regents, and I cannot imagine a more meaningful way to conclude my term. It has been an honor to be part of the careful study, bold thinking and shared commitment that brought us to this day. I want to thank President Callahan, our regents, faculty and staff, donors, clinical partners and community leaders who have helped make this vision possible. The School of Medicine reflects Pacific’s history, our values and our aspirations for the future. I am proud to celebrate this moment with all of you, and grateful for the many hands and hearts that will bring this vision to life. Thank you.