We recently sat down with Christina Truesdale and Dr. Mitchell Blutt to discuss their work as co-chairs of the Dean’s Council; they succeeded Sandy Ehrenkranz and Len Harlan, who led the Council for more than two decades. The new co-chairs have been busy during their first year: There are plans for new events, and the Council’s Leadership Committee now includes subcommittees that offer new opportunities for Council members to be more involved.
Q: So tell us: Why Weill Cornell Medicine – and why the Dean’s Council?
Mitchell Blutt: I have a long history here. I did my residency in the Department of Medicine and I currently serve on the faculty. I'm a Board of Fellows member and a career health-care industry professional – so everything about Weill Cornell Medicine is attractive and relevant to me, and it’s easy to be passionate about it. It resides in the rarified air of world-class academic medical centers, it’s located in the most dynamic city in the world, and it’s a remarkable institution with a profound mission that I align with.
Christina Truesdale: After I completed six years as the inaugural chair of the Children's Health Council, I knew I wanted to stay involved with Weill Cornell Medicine. When Sandy and Len asked if I would consider being a co-chair of the Dean's Council, I was both honored and humbled. I knew I had very big shoes to fill, but I was excited to step into the role. It’s inspiring to be on the cutting edge of innovation, while building relationships with physicians, scientists and my fellow Council members. Mitchell and I have a lot to offer both the Council and the institution, and I'm genuinely excited about the future of this incredible organization.
Q: How has your first year gone?
Christina: It’s been great! We’re surrounded by like-minded people, learning from the community of doctors, researchers and fellow members who share similar goals in supporting health care. Listening to them share how they’re working to solve the health issues of our city, our country – our world – is wonderful. I am truly in awe after every meeting.
Mitchell: I agree. We've made real progress in the year we've been co-chairs and I look forward to more of that. We’ve accomplished some tangible things – such as setting term lengths for leadership roles and establishing membership and programming subcommittees – that make me especially excited about the future.
Q: How has it been to work together?
Christina: Mitchell brings immense expertise with his extensive physician and business background as well as his leadership roles at Weill Cornell Medicine. His ideas are relevant, innovative and well- received, and I'm extremely grateful for them – and for his intelligence and kindness.
Mitchell: I don't know if anything in the world is perfect, but I think Christina and I are perfectly complementary in these roles. I mentioned my connections here, and Christina described her own important connection. On top of that, she brings calmness, a network of relationships and a special kind of demeanor that makes it a pleasure to work with her.
Q: How would you describe the unique role the Dean's Council plays within Weill Cornell Medicine?
Mitchell: It's a number of things for its members: a source of information, education and connectivity to Weill Cornell Medicine – as a clinical provider, as a research institution – to the faculty, and to the organization overall. The Dean's Council enables its membership to engage in all these ways, and to grow that engagement.
Q: What are the Council's greatest strengths?
Mitchell: Dean's Council members add three essential qualities: their ideas, their work and their philanthropy.
Christina: Yes – the members are our greatest strength. They're active, engaged and have great ideas. I'm excited for the new leadership structure – the possibilities are endless with this group.
Q: What excites you most about where the Council is headed – and where Weill Cornell Medicine is headed?
Christina: I look forward to seeing our new subcommittees come together. They’ll provide the expertise and ideas to support the Dean and help engage more members at the leadership level. We want those members who are more interested in taking on a role to step forward. As for Weill Cornell Medicine, I just want to give a shout-out to the two new buildings, the Midtown Clinical Care Center and the Center for Medical Innovation at 1334 York Avenue: They’re so exciting and present great ways to continue to build philanthropic commitments from the Dean's Council.
Q: What did you learn from Len and Sandy?
Christina: They worked tirelessly to make the Council what it is today. Mitchell and I want to continue their legacy. We’ll make changes, when necessary, to further strengthen the Council with current ideas, programming and leadership – but the values Len and Sandy established will always be the same.
Mitchell: Let me reinforce your gratitude to Len and Sandy, Christina, and give a shout-out to Daisy Soros for all she did to shape the Dean’s Council. If we can continue along the trajectory these three started, we will be doing something really great.
