Dean Joseph B. Martin Updated the Mission Statement

Joseph B. Martin became Dean of Harvard Medical School in 1997, and one of his first acts as Dean was to open to the campus the doors of the Medical Administration building, which had been closed for many years for "security reasons." This action was symbolic of Dean Martin's commitment to inclusion and transparency on the campus. In his memoir, Dean Martin explains that the opening of the doors was symbolic:

"It represents my priorities for Harvard Medical School. We, in this building will be open and accessible to all our communities."

That fall, the school embraced a new mission statement: "To create and nurture a diverse community of the best people committed to alleviating human suffering caused by disease."