AS ONE OF THE NATION’S leading public research universities, we have a unique responsibility to ensure that our knowledge, innovations, and discoveries extend far beyond our campus walls for the betterment of people and their communities.

Here at the University of Minnesota, our students, faculty, staff, and alums have truly embraced this responsibility. Look no further than our work in the health space. Over the past several months, I have had the pleasure of connecting with countless people from across our state, nation, and world, and many of them are looking to the University to improve the health of our society.

A healthier world is not only possible; we believe it is nonnegotiable. As president, one of my priorities is to reaffirm the University’s commitment to building a healthier Minnesota and a healthier planet.

Health is incredibly complex and interconnected, which is why our teams focus intently on exploring this topic in the broadest possible sense. We are working diligently to improve the health of our people and our animals, the health of our economy, and the health of our agriculture and environment.

Minnesota is home to a vibrant food and agricultural sector, and we understand the deep connections between environmental sustainability and human health. That’s why, in Duluth, our teams are harnessing energy from waves to sustainably power the future. And on the Twin Cities campus, our researchers are striving to eradicate food insecurity with super abundant crops, as well as nutritious and functional plant protein products.

The health needs of our society will only continue to grow in the years ahead. Our mission demands that we find new and innovative ways to deliver care across urban and rural communities—and everywhere in between. We will accomplish this by delivering world-class care for our patients. We’ll build on our rich history of creating new innovations that lead to life-changing treatments. And we’ll continue to train a skilled healthcare workforce that supports people across Minnesota and beyond, for generations to come.

Design also plays a key role in transforming our health. At our College of Design, we’re developing educational toys for children with congenital heart disease, redesigning UV protective hats, and creating tools to help patients with diabetes.

The University’s relentless pursuit to improve the health of our people and our planet also creates a strong ripple effect on the economy. Our research spins out 25 new companies each year, driving economic growth in communities—large and small—through job creation and enhanced workforce development.

As an emergency medicine physician and a public health researcher who has taken care of patients at the bedside and served in leadership roles at university medical centers, I feel a strong personal connection to our public service mission. I tend to see the world through a health lens, in the broadest sense, which is more important than ever before.

And so as we enter a new calendar year, I look forward to partnering with our U of M community in finding new ways to build a brighter future for everyone.

Rebecca Cunningham
President

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