Minutes of the Council Meetings >>

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DEAN'S MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL5, 2005
MINUTES

The meeting was called to order at 5:10 p.m.

1. BASIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS: Dr. Richard Bookman presented the report for the reorganization of the Basic Science Departments that was made by a chosen outside consultant "AltshulerGray" and presented recommendations for the Basic Science Departments.  Dr. Bookman discussed how the research from AltshulerGray is at its end.  Dr. Bookman first explained how AltshulerGray came about with their recommendations by collecting accumulate data about both our own school and its basic science departments and compared ourselves with other schools in the country and the results showed that we are under performing against national averages.  The following summary recommendations were made: (1) the University needs to release resources from the current system where possible to supplement required investments (2) be strategic when hiring new faculty and provide more active career development throughout the faculty career lifecycle and (3) catalyze culture change, strong leadership at every level and faculty involvement and involve faculty in efforts to rebuild the organization and culture of trust.  Dr. Bookman also commented that these recommendations require the President, the Dean, Department Chairs and Faculty to do some things and as we try to move forward in figuring out how to implement these recommendations.  The working group of this project will try to work through concrete action plans on each of these items and are not completely done, but feels we have made some progress and the school council can expect to see revamping of the Tenure system to be presented in the next meeting.  Dr. Bookman concluded by advising council that Dean Clarkson has been helping with the selecting of another Consultant to work with the University with similar reviews of research in clinical departments and centers.

2. MEDICAL SCHOOL BUDGET: Thomas Fitzpatrick discussed an overview of the budget for this fiscal year and looking ahead to 06’.  He discussed that this fiscal year will close out better than the past 2 years and for the first time the deficit for malpractice was 29M compared to higher numbers in the past.  He feels that this year there shouldn’t be a deficit but if there were one it would be a small deficit compared to other years. Mr. Fitzpatrick would be presenting a more detailed report for the next fiscal year in the next Dean's meeting. Mr. Fitzpatrick also stressed the difficulties with the Clinicians and how we have come to a halt. He expressed how we have reached the limit on being able to cross subsidize the scientific enterprise out of the clinical enterprise.  He stressed that its not just med-mal it is a capacity constraint. At least $22M dollars of institutional support has come out of for science and academic education from UMMG. Dr. Raskin expressed his concerns with the Division of GI with its budget and that it is becoming more difficult to balance a budget under the present increasing tax burden on clinical Departments and Divisions. More demands are being placed on clinical faculty to see patients because of these fiscal demands with decreasing time spent on academic pursuits. The GI Division salaries are very low and have been frozen for a few years and retention and the hiring of academic physician-scientists is most difficult.

   Dean Clarkson discussed that the finance committee approved the planning for the medical practice building.  Dean Clarkson further discussed the issue of malpractice and expressed that our source for paying the malpractice short falls is the clinical enterprise.  He feels it is not going to get worse, but in return we have asked the board of trustees to step up and do some things that are necessary for the medical school, clinical practice and research. Council brought about the use of taxation, but Mr. Fitzpatrick discussed how taxation is not a solution. The schools taxation rates have not changed in the last 10 years.  Thomas Fitzpatrick told council that we cannot look in taxing ourselves to resolve the issues. The solution has to be done externally. We have to reevaluate the cost of the relationship with Jackson and the public health trust.

   Dean Clarkson discussed the legislative relief on the med-mal. He let council know that right now he does not know where we stand, but advised that he has gone and will be sending a few UMMG members weekly to go in front of the legislature. He further discussed how he has met with some senators who have been positive with their support with what we are trying to do. The downside is going to the legislature for anything, you prefer not being there and having things in control and unfortunately we don't have things in control and Dean Clarkson expressed how a lot of our problems have a lot to do with our relationship with Jackson.

3. GUIDELINES FOR FACULTY APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE: There was a brief discussion regarding the guidelines for faculty appointment, promotion and tenure and were unanimously approved.

4. SCHOOL COUNCIL: The next meeting of the School Council will be April 26, 2005 a Dean's Meeting held at 5:00 p.m. in room 1301 and May 17th a Speaker's meeting to be held at 5p.m in room 1537 of the Sylvester Cancer Center.  This meeting is open to all faculty, as are all Council meetings.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.