Minutes of the Council Meetings >>

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DEAN/SPEAKER’S MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2004
S U M M A R Y

I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the Speaker’s meeting of February 17, 2004 were unanimously approved.

II. FACULTY CLUB UPDATE

Dr. Lewis reported that the survey regarding the Faculty Club had been mailed to all faculty. He encouraged the Council to complete the questionnaire and to advise their constituencies to do the same. Dr. Lewis explained that the questionnaire was prepared and distributed by the Dean’s Office and that a subcommittee of the Council would review the results. Dr. Lewis also noted that the Faculty Club questionnaire was very comprehensive.

III. COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM

Dr. Mian reported that the Admission Committee chair received a note from Dr. Richard Bookman who requested that several student candidates for the M.D./Ph.D. program be favorably considered. Dr. Mian felt that the candidates for the combined degree programs should be highly qualified students and therefore did not require special treatment. He believed that these students should be the leaders among the other medical and graduate students. Dr. Mian noted that approximately eight slots were available for combined degree program candidates and he believed that all the slots had never been filled.

Dr. Awad explained that of four M.D./Ph.D. students entering the class of 2001 in the new curriculum, three encountered difficulty in the practice board exam. He noted that 2 of the students finally passed but 2 students, after taking the practice twice, had failed the regular board exam the first time. Dr. Awad commented that the situation was not new and such failure among students in the combined degree program was reoccurring. He reported that students wishing to leave the combined degree program would encumber the tuition benefits they received prior to entering the curriculum and some felt obligated to stay in the program. Dr. Awad noted that the issue had been discussed in the basic science chairs committee. He also stated that there was a steering committee representing the combined degree students, which was not appointed by Faculty Council. Dr. Awad pointed out to Dr. Bookman that the steering committee should be embedded through the School Faculty Council since it was responsible for faculty duties on committees related to medical education.

Dr. Lewis reiterated Dr. Awad’s concern that combined degree students historically had failed the Board Exam Part One and voiced his concern for academic standards at the school. Dr. Fletcher expressed her view that the goal of the combined degree program was to produce physician scientists and not only Ph.D.s. Dr. Carraway noted that the previous M.D./Ph.D. Admissions Committee was the graduate program directors at the medical school. Dr. Thurer asked who made the decision on who was admitted to combined degree program. Dr. Carraway replied that it was the decision of the Medical Admission Committee and M.D./ Ph.D. Admissions Committee. Dr. Lewis suggested that Dr. Bookman attend the next Speaker’s Meeting to discuss the M.D./Ph.D. Admissions Committee and the issues discussed by the Council.

IV. OTHER BUSINESS

Dr. Lewis reported that an email concerning a meeting of the UMMG to discuss the possible separation of the UMMG from the medical school had been circulated. He voiced his concern that the email was addressed to the leadership of the school yet the School Faculty Council was not invited to participate in the meeting. Dr. Lewis stated that he wrote a letter expressing his concern to the UMMG leadership. Dr. Thurer noted that according to President Shalala, the purpose for the UMMG meeting was only to hear report from the consultants and that no decision was being made. He strongly believed that the UMMG leadership should make known to the faculty the possible plan for separation although no resolution had been reached. Dr. Lewis reported that Dr. Jorge Guerra would be invited to attend the next Speaker’s meeting on April 20 report on this issue. Dr. Thurer briefly summarized that the issue involved the separation of the clinical practice from the medical school and the university at a corporate level so that the university would not be obligated for any financial responsible of the practice.