Minutes of the Council Meetings >>

2001-2002  (FY03) MEDICAL SCHOOL COUNCIL
Dr. John Clarkson, Chair

MINUTES

Medical School Council Meeting - Tuesday, September 24, 2002. (These minutes were approved at the Dean's meeting of the School Council held October 29, 2002)

Dr. Cohn called this meeting to order at 5:11 p.m. due to the absence of Dr. Clarkson. Members absent were Drs. Bauer, Baumbach, Bishopric, Cleary, Diego, Fenna, Mian, O'Sullivan, Sipski, Young

1. MINUTES: Minutes of the Speaker's meeting held September 10, 2002 were approved.

2. SCHOOL BYLAWS: Dr. Cohn asked Cynthia Augustyn, Associate General Council for the Medical School to discuss the present status of the bylaws written by the School Council. Ms. Augustyn responded that she has suggested that the bylaws be defined as those of the Faculty Council of the School of Medicine and as policies, procedures and guidelines of the UMSM faculty. This is because the bylaws were written by faculty and involve the faculty.

Dr. Thurer noted that the bylaws define the governance of the School and believed it likely that they will be approved and forwarded to the Dean by the Council whose role is defined in the Faculty Manual. Ms Augustyn answered that the bylaws define how the faculty and Council are governed. Dr. Thurer added that the Council has a role in governing the School and that this role is not limited to governing the Council itself.

Dr. Cohn proposed that a vote be taken on the bylaws and for approval of the bylaws as presently written. The motion was unanimously passed that the bylaws be approved and submitted to Dr. Clarkson.

3. RESEARCH SPACE: Dr. Cohn reminded the Council that Dr. Clarkson had asked for a formal resolution on research space allocation from the Council. He noted that such a resolution was approved at the previous Speaker's Meeting for submission to the Dean.

Dr. Cohn then asked Dr. James Potter, Chair of Pharmacology and a member of the Executive Office of Research Leadership for his view on how research space should be allocated. Dr. Potter answered that the EORL is aware of many concerns about space allocation including that some clinical departments do not have space but are being encouraged to recruit faculty who are conducting research. He said that planning is on going to provide existing and new research space to productive investigators in clinical and basic science departments.

Dr. Cohn considered it essential that space be awarded based on merit and not by departments or institutes/centers. He is concerned that chair candidates will likely ask for space allocations as part of their recruitment packages and that the School cannot be assured that this territory will be utilized effectively.

Dr. Fishman answered that recruiting packages are essential to obtain top senior investigators and chair. He predicted that if we insist on everything being in place, then we cannot recruit top people. Dr. Cohn proposed that there be a defined window for recruitment packages and that if promised space is not being utilized effectively within the 'window' period, then the space should become available for others.

Lewis proposed that a subcommittee of the Council should be constituted to create a unified formula for space allocation. Cohn answered that the problem is not the formula but the enforcement of this formula. Dr. Markoe pointed out that Dean Clarkson did not specifically ask for a formula but rather for a resolution. Dr. Lewis responded that the resolution approved by the Council includes a statement that a formula should be approved and enforced.

Dr. Potter continued that the EORL and the office lead by Ronald Bogue, Assistant Vice President for Facilities, are conducting a space inventory to determine whether present space is being utilized effectively. This will help the EORL determine whether new requests for space are appropriate.

Dr. King recognized that space allocation is a complex issue and asked Dr. Potter and Mr. Bogue to make recommendations to the Council. Dr. Potter said that two new research buildings are being planned, one for 'wet lab' research and one for clinical research. He said that faculty research needs must be evaluated individually. He suggested that all offer letters with space commitments to new faculty be reviewed in advance by the EORL and Mr. Bogue.

Dr. Markoe said that a problem is that good research is too often equated with dollars. He noted many researchers are publishing and truly doing quality research with little or no funding. Dr. Potter answered that this is why there must be some discretion for Chairs to make these observations.

Dr. Lewis agreed that that it will be difficult to produce a space allocation formula without prior deliberations and proposals from a smaller group. Cohn affirmed that the Council is willing to help the EORL if asked. Dr. Fishman suggested that the Council ask the Dean if he wants the Council's further input into this issue.

4. FACULTY CLUB: Mr. Bogue reported that Dr. Clarkson has spoken with JMH administration and that agreement was reached to allocate space (approximately 4,000 square feet) in the Park Plaza West for a faculty club. Two issues remain which are relocation costs for the Physician Referral Office and costs for renovations. He said that a proposal has been submitted to the University to assist with these costs.

Dr. Lewis asked for a time estimate on this construction. Mr. Bogue answered that getting permits and moving Physician Referral Office will likely take 60-90 days and that completion of renovations will depend on funding.

5. PHYSICIAN APPOINTMENTS: Dr. Cohn brought up the issue of clinical appointments. Dr. Markoe agreed that this is a problem and said that people who are successful in getting appointments are going around the system and calling the physician's office directly. Cohn suggested that the Council determine whether there have been attempts by the UMMG to improve the appointment process.

6. CHAIR SEARCHES: Dr. King reported that there has not been external advertising for the Chair position in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy. She believed that this is why there have been no independently generated candidates and why the search committee has concentrated on candidates referred by others.

Dr. Fishman suggested that the guidelines for chair searches written by the Council and approved by the Dean should be distributed to each search committee. Dr. Cohn said that this is a responsibility of the Council's representative on each committee.

7. SCHOOL COUNCIL: The next Speaker’s Meeting of the School Council will be held Tuesday, October 15, 2002 at 5 p.m. in the Ryder Trauma Center. The next Dean’s meeting will be on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 at 5 p.m in the Sylvester Cancer Center, Room 1301.. These meetings are open to all faculty, as are all Council meetings. The meeting was adjourned at 6:31 p.m.

Myron Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Professional Affairs

Adjourn 6:24 p.m.