---letter from
--VALERIE CASTLE, M.D.

I‘m extremely proud that I‘ve spent my entire professional career at the University of Michigan. I came here in 1986 to train as an oncologist. I chose U-M because the division of Pediatric Oncology was recognized as one of the top three programs in the country. It was an incredibly exciting time to come to Michigan‘s campus and work with the outstanding faculty. When you hear people talk about the “Michigan Difference,” I know exactly what that means.

Now, almost 20 years later, it is still exciting, if not more exciting, to be part of the Michigan community. Major advances have been made in pediatric medicine and many of these advances have their roots at Michigan. Achieving so much, in such a short time, has allowed us to dream about what lies ahead.

The Champions for Children campaign is helping us continue our heritage as an outstanding children’s hospital in a very special medical school that is part of a highly respected public university. Champions for Children will go above and beyond the building of a new hospital. It‘s about the new opportunities that a state-of-the-art facility will give to our faculty and staff, allowing us to improve how we diagnose and treat children with serious illness. We hope that this issue of Michigan Cares helped you to learn more about what makes C.S. Mott Children‘s Hospital and the University of Michigan Medical School unique.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.medicineatmichigan.org/difference/mott.asp.

Sincerely,

Valerie P. Castle, M.D.
Ravitz Foundation Professor of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases
Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Chair, Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases