Earlier this week, UNC Health Care held a ceremony recognizing the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event was in the lobby of NC Memorial Hospital, which opened in 1952, and was named in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in that war.

The event was an unabashedly patriotic affair, featuring several WW II veterans as speakers and attendees.

Although we are dominantly focused on providing the best of care to our patients and their families, and we often are so busy that we do not look outside to see what is going on around us ? it is important occasionally for us to see the context for what we do.

This recognition ceremony reminded us emphatically of who we are and why we do what we do for the people of this state, and many others.

We welcome feedback from the many constituencies we serve, on how we can do an even better job of making clear that this institution is operated by and for the people of North Carolina.”