North Dakota Medicine
North Dakota Medicine is a quarterly print publication of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
From the Dean: One year in...
It’s hard to believe, but December 1, 2025, marked my first anniversary with the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. One year in, I’m proud of everything our extended SMHS family – staff, faculty, and students – has accomplished in the 12 short months following my arrival in North Dakota.
As I told UND President Andy Armacost when I was interviewing for this role, I’m a change agent. I like change and love to help organizations grow and evolve to better meet their potential.
I use that last word intentionally: what drew me to North Dakota’s only comprehensive school of medicine and health sciences was the incredible potential I saw here to be the go-to place for any number of healthcare related challenges, from telehealth and rural healthcare delivery to aerospace medicine and AI in healthcare education.
Each of these fronts, all of which UND is already pursuing in earnest, help us meet our purpose of serving the people of North Dakota and improving the quality of their lives. I wake up every day with this mission in mind.
As we close the book on 2025, then, let me thank our alumni, donors, and clinical faculty, especially. We literally could not do what we do without your tireless support and generous contributions to our School.
Thanks for all you do for health and healthcare in North Dakota and around the nation all year long. Finally, let me wish you all a warm holiday season and a happy and healthy 2026.
With gratitude,
Marjorie R. Jenkins, M.D., M.Ed.H.P., FACP
Vice President for Health Affairs, UND
Dean, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
