he publication of this fourth issue of Momentum completes the first full year of this new periodical dedicated to bringing news and perspective about developments and future thinking within the Woodruff Health Sciences Center. We have brought you features describing strategic planning in core mission areas; ongoing changes in WHSC schools, institutes, hospitals and programs; outstanding accomplishments of individuals; and viewpoints on topics important to our goals. This issue rounds out the first year with a first look at the promise and prospects for our unique new partnership with Columbia/HCA and for our newly NIH-designated Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). And among several other important features and reports, we have also reprinted in part a presentation I gave recently on the status and prospects for academic health centers. I hope you will find this presentation interesting - and useful - in further understanding some of our ongoing major initiatives.

We have covered a lot of ground over this last year, and we will continue to use Momentum to bring focus to a wide variety of WHSC initiatives. That's because there is so much extraordinary work going on throughout the center, with new initiatives being undertaken every day. In this time of significant change and flux, there is much for all of us to know and share about the tremendous array of important work that is propelling us to the forefront of biomedical science, education, and health care for the 21st century.

From the Director  /  Letters

Emory & Columbia/HCA Open New Doors

Q & A with Columbia/HCA

EHCA at a Glance  /  Map

Emory's Newest Chessman

Global Attack on AIDS

Taking Stock

Moving Forward  /  Noteworthy

Drug trials. Who needs them?

Reaching Out to Nicaragua

Momentum itself has been an exciting venture. Its unique mission is to serve as a vehicle through which all faculty and staff can better understand our changing environment and participate in the many elements of our ongoing strategic planning and implementation process. Most important is not so much that we tell each and every story about each and every program or important accomplishment - though we'll continue to do our best to bring many of those to you. Most important is that we communicate information and perspective that enable all of us to become positive change agents - to develop understanding that enables each of us to undertake the types of personal and professional initiatives that contribute to our common purposes and our common goals across each of our mission areas.

We welcome your suggestions about how we can do better as well as what questions or issues you would like to see addressed. And, as always, should you find Momentum anything less than a useful and compelling resource, I hope you will let me and our editors know.

Michael M. E. Johns