Talking Points and FAQs

Stanford Medicine is an overarching brand name that represents the unified power and excellence of our organizations— the School of Medicine and the pediatric and adult health care delivery systems. Together, our organizations fulfill our three-part mission of research, education, and clinical care. Our excellence in the clinical practice of medicine is intertwined with our excellence in research and teaching, which are core to the mission of Stanford University whose name we all bear. Stanford Medicine is not a legal entity, but simply a brand mark.

Stanford Medicine is an ecosystem, and the Stanford School of Medicine plays a critical role as the academic organization within the ecosystem. It is important to note that the School of Medicine is still a separate, distinct, and legal entity. We are not merging or being acquired. With the pediatric and adult health care delivery systems—under the Stanford Medicine umbrella—we are all uniquely poised to transform medical care, research, and training while still being able to deliver on our specific mission.

We are elevating the use of Stanford Medicine as the collective brand that comprises and unifies the School of Medicine and the pediatric and adult health care delivery systems. We are also clarifying how we use the collective brand.

The elevation of our collective brand is a long-term investment, and change will be purposeful and happen over time. We are committed to keeping you informed as branding updates are implemented.

To ensure that we have a consistent visual experience, language, and brand story across Stanford Medicine, our updated branding will be implemented in a multi-phase, multi-year approach.

The Stanford School of Medicine remains its own distinct organization. Your day-to-day work will not change, nor will there be employment changes as a result.

By elevating the Stanford Medicine brand, we are taking the next step in realizing the vision of the Integrated Strategic Plan and reflecting the alignment that our community expects from us. These changes reaffirm our strength as a collective and differentiate us from peer institutions, harnessing the full potential of our three-part mission of research, education, and clinical care.

Our key stakeholders (patients, students, providers, researchers, employees, and our communities) want and expect this alignment from us. Anchored in the Integrated Strategic Plan and propelled by the shared vision of our three leaders and entities, the Stanford Medicine brand reinforces the strength of our ecosystem.

It means the Stanford School of Medicine is part of an even stronger collective enterprise and benefits from an integrated brand approach to medical care, research, and training. Together, we are leading a revolution in biomedicine—one where health care is proactive and preventive, personalized, and precise.

Your employment and leadership structure within the Stanford School of Medicine do not change. We are not merging organizations. Stanford Medicine is simply a brand mark.

Before we make the public aware of the updated branding, we are providing time for all employees to learn about these branding changes. All information regarding the branding changes should be kept internal until our public launch of July 26, 2022. Details about the public launch will be provided soon.

Implementation will be phased, so while there will be some branded elements available to begin, not everything will be introduced at the same time. For a period, it is acceptable for both the updated and current branding to co-exist. To start, the following items will carry updated branding:

• Websites' main logos
• Desktop wallpaper
• Email signatures
• PowerPoint templates
• Stationery. Use current inventory until supplies run out or changes need to be made.
• ID badges. Use existing badges unless there is a need for a new badge, i.e., new employee, name change, department change, invalid badge, etc.
   

The items above are available for employees to prep but should not be used or implemented until the public launch date.

Additional items will be rebranded over time, including signage, work apparel, forms, and more.

Your employment, including your benefits, will not change. There will be no changes to the Stanford School of Medicine leadership, departments, or reporting structure. We are elevating our collective brand and clarifying how we use it, not merging organizations. Stanford Medicine is not a legal entity, but simply a brand mark.

The signs on our buildings are one of the most tangible ways for us to signal change to our patients and communities. Phased timing is in progress, and updates will be provided on a regular basis.

Continue to use your existing institute and lab logos. For information and guidance on new logo ideation, please email sombranding@stanford.edu.

No, vendor interaction remains unchanged.

Use existing badges unless there is a need for a new badge, i.e., new employee, name change, department change, invalid badge, etc.