Minutes of the Council Meetings >>

  SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DEAN'S MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2002
S U M M A R Y

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the Dean’s Meeting of July 30, 2002 were unanimously approved.

Dr. Clarkson believed that this was a pivotal year marked by the commencement of the 50th anniversary of the medical school on September 20. He stated that the 50th Anniversary Celebration would commence with a reception for the medical students and the public portion of the capital campaign would begin in early 2003. Dr. Clarkson reiterated that one major problem was spreading information among the faculty. He stressed the importance of the Council’s role of communicating with the constituencies they represent. Unlike the customary initiatives originated within departments, Dr. Clarkson emphasized that the capital campaign was a school-wide endeavor, which required enormous effort. He noted that this was a great opportunity to raise new awareness in the community but that we first needed to be convinced of our potential. Dr. Clarkson believed that the Council’s contribution to the case statement was valuable and urged them to continue open communication among the faculty. He believed that every faculty and staff member should become aware of the school’s vision to be among the top 20 medical school in the country within the next 10 years. In order to become top 20 in NIH funding, clinical service, and first class educational programs, Dr. Clarkson reiterated that we needed to make significant investments but we had the potential to achieve these goals.

Dr. Cohn noted that space was inadequately being utilized and we were not maximizing on our research capabilities due to lack of space. Dr. Clarkson acknowledged the problem and reported that Ron Bogue had done an inventory of all space and changes were expected. Dr. Cohn felt that space should be allocated on the basis of grant funding and merit and assignment of space authorized by the Dean. Dr. Clarkson suggested that the Council draft a resolution regarding the award of research space at the medical school. He agreed that allocation of research space should be based on need and manifested by external funding. Dr. Baumbach stated that additional funds should be spent on infrastructure instead of on building more space when space was not being properly utilized. Dr. Bishopric drafted the following suggestion for the resolution: “ The faculty resolve that it is the prerogative of the Dean to assign all research space without regard to departmental affiliation and to do so on the basis of research productivity and extramural funding”. The Council also recommended that they meet with the members of Executive Office of Research Leadership (EORL) to discuss their views and plan regarding the issue of research space.

III. RESEARCH TASK FORCE REPORT UPDATE

Dr. Baumbach stated that the Research Task Force Report was at the final stages. She hoped that by the end of the week the document could be circulated to the committee members for their review and final input. Dr. Baumbach explained that the committee members would have 2 weeks to review the report before it was posted on the web and presented at the Clinical and Basic Science Chairs meetings.

Dr. Markoe reported that a task force was constituted to evaluate the issues of inequity in the promotion and tenure process and retaining faculty on the Clinical-Educator track. He stated that the task force had deliberated for several months and generated the following recommendation:

1. The Senior Dean for Faculty and Professional Affairs will:
2. 1. Mentor all new Chairpersons in promotion and tenure criteria
   2. Review these criteria annually with all Department Chairs
   3. Annually issue deadlines for the promotion and tenure process
   4. Remind all chairs to be pro-active in encouraging worthy faculty to submit for promotion and tenure
3. The Medical School Council strongly supports the recommendations of the Task Force on Faculty Development and Mentoring.
4. Institution of a school-wide mentoring program for promotion and tenure of junior faculty with this mentoring being documented.
5. An effective and uniform teaching evaluation instrument be created and validated which will be quantitative and able to be computerized for longitudinal tracking.
6. The Dean and Associate Deans should review the time periods for promotion and for tenure. These two should be separated in time. Promotion and or tenure can be achieved in a shorter time but the School Council suggests 5-7 years maximum for promotion and 11 years maximum for tenure.
7. The School Council offers three potential solutions for the retention of faculty on the Clinical-Educator (C-E) track.
8. 1. Alter guidelines for promotion on the C-E track so that clinical research is not stressed as much as it appears to be at the present time.
   2. Specifically allocate funds toward faculty support on the C-E track to defray costs of additional faculty, which will allow C-E track faculty the time to produce tangible research contributions.
   3. Establish a new track for clinical service only, as established at several other academic centers.

Dr. Clarkson explained that a junior faculty organization, headed by Drs. Alex and Hilit Mechaber, had been formed. He noted that junior faculty members had been nominated by Chairs to represent their department. Dr. Clarkson felt that the Faculty Council should also be represented. Dr. Baumbach nominated Dr. Giovanni Piedimonte, former Council member, who chaired the Task Force on Faculty Development and Enhancement Programs. She also nominated Drs. Kerry Burnstein and Lisa Granville, former Council members, and Dr. Mary Lou King, a current member, who are all actively involved in mentoring.

Regarding the promotion criteria for clinical-educator faculty, Dr. Clarkson felt that the heavy clinical workloads could somehow be translated into academic activities, such as talks at scientific meetings, and peer review journals. Dr. Mian noted that the problem was not only in promoting clinical educators but also in retaining the high quality ones. He stressed that faculty on the clinical educator track do not have the opportunity to contribute academically and therefore can not be promoted. Dr. Lewis believed that a standard as to what constitute a clinical-educator was needed as well as an infrastructure for educating educators. Dr. Lewis felt that the emphasis on educational functions was not clear to the clinical educator faculty. Dr. Baumbach favored developing a method to reward teaching efforts. The possibility of establishing the clinical-educator track as a new track for service only was discussed. Dr. Bishopric expressed her view that the goal to improve communication between clinical and basic science faculty would not be productive if a class of clinicians only was created. Dr. Baumbach felt that chairs and division chiefs were not reinforcing the expectations of clinical educators.

The Council unanimously accepted the recommendation to the Dean regarding promotion and tenure as presented by Dr. Markoe.

V. COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

Dr. Mian reported that several members had resigned from the Admissions Committees. He announced the names of new members willing to serve and the Council approved the appointments. The following faculty were appointed to the Admissions Committee: Drs. Mahendra Kumar and Ana Campo from the Department of Psychiatry, and Dibe Martin from the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Dr. Charles LoPiccolo was appointed Council representative.

Dr. Mian reported that one member from the APT Committee had resigned and suggested the appointment of Dr. Michael Gordon. The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Michael Gordon to the APT Committee. He also noted the following changes on the Executive Promotions Committee: Drs. Janet Canterbury and Priscilla Potter will not longer serve as Ex-officio members and were replaced by Drs. Robert Hernandez and Rev. Thomas Crowder.

VI. CHAIR SEARCH UPDATE

Dr. Clarkson reported that there was a candidate from John Hopkins Medical Center for the Department of Pediatrics chair position. The Search Committee was asked to forward their recommendation by October.

VII. UPDATE ON HOSPITAL ACQUISITION

Dr. Clarkson reported that discussions with HCA, and Mount Sinai had taken place as well as plans for our own hospital as an alternative. Dr. Baumbach questioned the status of the UM/Sylvester presence in Broward County. Dr. Clarkson answered that he hoped to form a multi-disciplinary presence in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. He added that the school and HCA discussed possibilities for a regional relationship and partial ownership of Cedars Hospital.

VIII. UPDATE ON FACULTY CLUB

Dr. Clarkson stated that a formal request to Mr. Clark for space in Park Plaza West had been submitted but no reply had been received. He assured that a faculty club would be built and that once budgeted the plan would take 90-120 days to complete. Dr. Clarkson envisioned that the ideal location for the Faculty Club was the RMSB but would temporarily be situated in the Park Plaza West.