Family, Alumni, and the Power of Legacy

The great poet Maya Angelou advised: “If you’re going to live, leave behind a legacy. Make an impact on the world that can never be erased.”

This issue of The Bulletin focuses on legacy — generations of graduates from the same families that have chosen Jefferson for their medical training; alums who have stayed here their entire career; and alums carrying on their parent’s work. It is a testament to the outstanding education we provide, and to our graduates’ commitment to making an enduring impact on healthcare, education, and discovery.

Family ties bind, and so do alumni ties. One of the best ways to strengthen those bonds is through participation on the alumni board. Our work helps us to shape the generations that follow us, to give back to our alma mater, and to leave a lasting legacy.

Our alumni board helps us connect with, and mentor, current students and recent graduates, providing them with guidance and career opportunities. By cultivating these relationships, we are able to have a positive impact on their experiences at Jefferson and beyond. But we do so much more.

We provide a supportive environment for both new and established alumni. We participate in fundraising and philanthropy to sponsor scholarships, professorships, research, and programs that benefit the community at large.

We engage in networking and community building to bring together graduates from diverse fields and backgrounds. We organize social events to provide a place for alumni locally and across the country to meet up and catch up, encouraging lifelong engagement with each other and with our alma mater.

And we advocate for Jefferson to promote its goals and values so that we can continually build upon a legacy of excellence.

In short, by joining the alumni board you can have an impact on the world that can never be erased now — and for years to come. If you’d like to be part of that legacy, please contact associate director of Alumni Relations Mirka Cortes at mirka.cortes@jefferson.edu. In addition, for all the latest alumni news and upcoming events, check out Jefferson.edu/Alumni.