Minutes of the Council Meetings >>

MEDICAL SCHOOL FACULTY COUNCIL
Dean's Meeting
TUESDAY, September 28, 2004
SCCC Room 1301

1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:15 P.M.

2. VWR
Dr. Lewis explained that there was concern by some of the faculty that the Medical School had changed vendors, without their knowledge, to VWR and that they had to order from VWR as their sole source for supplies & equipment. Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that a group from purchasing had met with the basic sciences Chairs previously and the meeting had went well. Dean Clarkson suggested that if this was a big issue, the Medical School Faculty Counsel should meet with the people from purchasing. The Counsel agreed that they should meet with purchasing.

3. Health Sciences Program
Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that he received a letter from the Dean Peragallo, School of Nursing, requesting to have the Health Science Program moved into the School of Nursing. Apparently, the College of Arts & Sciences has yielded the school, but not the degree. The Faculty Senate has not discussed this issue. The Counsel discussed their response to such a request, and since it does not impact the School of Medicine, they agreed that the response should be in line with, “Thank you for informing us of this change.”

4. Letter from Medical School Faculty Counsel
Dr. Lewis informed the Committee that he wrote two letters on behalf of the Counsel. The first was written to Professor Mary Coombs suggesting that with the appointment of a new Provost on the horizon, the Senate take this opportunity to review the promotion and tenure process at the University and create formal legislation to codify the process since the consensus among the Council was that too much of the present process is open to individual interpretation. The second letter to Jorge Guerra requested that a seat for a permanent non-voting representative from the Faculty Council be created on the UMMG.

 5. Dean Clarkson

a) Medical Affairs Committee
Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that Medical School Administrators presented the business plan for the new basic research building using the model from the Batchelor Building to Medical Affairs Committee. The Cancer Center wants to expand, so they could take up some of the space as well as neuroscience, DRI and Ophthalmology who have requested space. The Committee is expecting preliminary approval with architect’s designs soon and a finish date in 2007. The Cancer Center, Ophthalmology, DRI and Surgery have all expressed interest in this new Wet Lab building.

b) Self-Insurance Plan
Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that UMMG has a $49 million shortfall that UM is carrying right now. President Shalala wants a repayment plan because the deficit is affecting bond ratings. Plus, the University wants to borrow money to build the above-mentioned basic research building. President Shalala wants a UMMG commitment to repay the $49 million and a reorganization of the self-insurance plan that protects against continued losses.

Dean Clarkson then discussed the possible initiatives that he is looking into to deal with the situation:

1. State initiative – Legal models are being developed to present to the State. However, President Shalala prefers not to go back to the State.
2. County initiative – Forming a separate practice entity where all clinical faculty employees become employees of the County, but this is not a first option.
3. FAU initiative – The practice entity joins FAU and becomes a sovereign entity.
4. Enterprise Model initiative – A state initiative which would allow hospitals to indemnify their medical staffs.
5. Private corporation initiative – Needs to be explored further.

Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that once the clinical enterprise selects on one or two options, he would come back to the Counsel before going forward. He reminded the Counsel that there is a time constraint.

President Shalala told Dean Clarkson that UMMG needs to reorganize the self-insurance plan and gain fiscal responsibility. Dean Clarkson said that UMMG needs its own clinical facility in order to move the clinical practice forward. He believes that UMMG has been overextending itself and needs to focus. He continued by stating that he believes the only way to do this is by having a facility that UMMG can own top to bottom.

Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that as the Deloitte audit of Jackson progresses they keep finding more problems.

Dean Clarkson was asked about the specifics of the $49 million shortfall with the self-insurance plan. Dean Clarkson explained that no money has actually changed hands. He said the calculation is based on actuarial estimates relating to outstanding liabilities and risks. Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that private insurance would be far more costly verses our self-insurance program.

Dean Clarkson also informed the Counsel that we have lost some of our funding from the State as the first accredited medical school in the state. This annual payment was effectively discontinued and replaced by payment from University to Medicaid Doctors providing care to Medicaid patients.

c) External Audits
Dean Clarkson reported that external audits were completed for the departments of Rehabilitative Medicine and Dermatology. He should be receiving those reports shortly and will meet with the respective Chairs and faculty.

d) Faculty Searches
Dean Clarkson reported on the following Faculty Searches:

1. Dr. Bradley and Dr. Fogel are seeking a director of a new Parkinson’s program. They believe they have identified a candidate.
2. Dr. David Sweat from Baylor has been offered the position to head the McKnight memory loss program.
3. There may be another neuroscience position, with a genetics expert joining the possible new Parkinson’s director from Baylor.

e) Dr. Skip Elsas
Dr. Elsas has created a business for providing genetic testing. He has created a training program as well as the service to help support the genetics program.

f) Faculty Club
Dean Clarkson was informed that Jackson has opened its own faculty club. The Counsel found it bothersome as to their own time and effort towards creating the UM Medical Faculty Club at the Sewell Bldg. Dean Clarkson said the JMH faculty is small and not considered as competition for the UM Medical Faculty Club.

g) Boca Raton Community Hospital
Dean Clarkson informed the Counsel that UMSM is working with colleagues from the Boca Raton Community Hospital (“BRCH”) and FAU on the planning process for a future relationship. FAU is looking for a 4-year medical school, BRCH wants a teaching hospital and UM wants the opportunity to make money and a location to invest in programs. Dean Clarkson reported that we are requesting endowed chairs and a commitment to UMMG. He stated that no financial numbers have been discussed at this point. Dean Clarkson said that UMMG would like to have a clinical presence in Palm Beach County.

6. Standing Committees
The Council approved the appointments of Dr. Vance Lemmon and Dr. Thomas Malek to the Animal Resources Committee.

7. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 P.M.