October 2025 President’s Message
Future of medicine: training the next generation
by Jany Moussa, MD —
One of the greatest strengths of Wichita’s medical community is our commitment to training the next generation of physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals right here at home. Unlike many communities our size, Wichita is fortunate to have two medical schools, multiple residency programs, and strong partnerships with nursing schools that serve as pipelines for talent.
The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita has been a cornerstone for over 50 years, producing physicians who not only practice across Kansas but often choose to stay and serve in Wichita. Our residency programs at Ascension Via Christi, Wesley Healthcare and KUSM-W continue to provide excellent graduate medical education, giving young doctors the skills they need in real-world clinical settings.
The importance of this mission cannot be overstated. With ongoing physician and nursing shortages, the future of healthcare in Sedgwick County depends on our ability to attract, train and retain the next generation of providers. When our trainees experience the supportive culture of Wichita medicine, they see why this is such a rewarding place to build a career and raise a family.
For me, this is personal. I came to Wichita for residency and fellowship, and it has become my professional and family home. Now, as I mentor students and residents, I see the same spark of excitement I once felt.
On a family level, my daughter Reema is in her third year at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, and my younger daughter, Nicole, is pursuing pre-medicine at the University of Tulsa. Watching their journeys reminds me how important it is for us to model a thriving, welcoming medical community.
I am especially proud of what we have already accomplished as a community. In our Middle Eastern community alone, we have produced nearly 20 students already in medical school and another 10 preparing to take their MCATs. These young men and women are inspired by the commitment they have seen from us, and most plan to return to Wichita to practice medicine. In fact, three of them are starting their practice here this year. Similarly, many of our colleagues who grew up in Wichita now see their own children following in their footsteps, going into medicine, and returning home to serve this community.
These stories remind us that Wichita’s medical future is being built not just in classrooms and hospitals but in families and communities. Each generation is inspired by the one before, and that cycle of mentorship, commitment and service ensures that Sedgwick County remains not just a place to train but a place where physicians and nurses want to stay, grow and lead.
My call to each of you is this: Open your doors to students, invite them into your clinics, share your journey, and encourage them when they need it most. Even a single word of mentorship or an afternoon of shadowing can light the spark that carries a student through the long road of medical training.
Together, we can show them that Wichita is not only where they can become great physicians but also where they can build meaningful, fulfilling lives.