Our common mission Michael Johns spelled out our mission in three simple words and unveiled major initiatives for the future in his "state of health affairs" address in late November. View the webcast and our accomplishments of the past five years at www.emory.edu/WHSC/HSNEWS. In the next issue of Momentum, we will include a full account of our new strategy.

he horrific events of September 11 in New York and Pennsylvania and in our nation's capital have left a mark on all of us. This was an action of incomprehensible evil and a tragedy of stunning dimensions that opened a serious wound. And even with an extraordinary amount of caring and healing and finding ways to bring justice to bear on the perpetrators and those who support and enable them, we will all be left with an indelible scar. As we struggle to come to grips with what these events mean to us, our nation, and our world, our hearts and our prayers go out to those whose lives have been most immediately and painfully affected by this national tragedy, including any in the Emory family who have lost loved ones, friends, or colleagues. As a physician and surgeon, I have been awed time and again by the extraordinary recuperative and healing power of comfort and hope, of the will to live, and of the determination to restore threatened or lost capacities and to resume the everyday tasks and aspirations of life, work, and family. Through these traumatic few months of our collective tragedy and its aftermath, I have been more than awed at how strongly people have come together to support one another, to rescue and to heal one another. People wounded physically as well as spiritually have everywhere come together to help one another and to move our communities and our country forward once again. Within moments of the attacks, the courage, strength, selflessness, and generosity of Americans, and of many other people around the world began to effect a process of recovery and healing. We saw it in New York and Washington. We also saw it in communities across the nation and the world. And we saw it here at Emory. I am very proud of how this great helping and healing force surged here at Emory and the Woodruff Health Sciences Center. I know that it took extra strength these past few months to keep the clinics and hospitals running so smoothly. I know it took courage to stay on standby for whatever happened. I know it took great focus to teach our students and maintain our laboratories and research. I know it is taking thoughtful concern and tremendous collaboration to apply what we've learned to better protect the public's health as well as our own community's safety and that of our neighbors. And I know that all of these efforts combined reinforced the certainty that we will recover and that we will make a better, more humane, and caring future.

Michael Johns, Director, Woodruff Health Sciences Center

Make no mistake: this is a significant wound. As health scientists, educators, and care professionals, but also as people, we all know that the healing process will continue to require a great deal of intensive care. We also know that the justice-seeking process could well open new wounds and require even more care. There will likely be much uncertainty and all the residuals of trauma to deal with for some time to come. But I have seen here and elsewhere - and I know everyone here at Emory has too - a healing and helping spirit that no earthly evil can possibly overcome. I see it every day. It is both the American and the Emory way. Michael M. E. Johns

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