Standing Committees >>

2009 - 2010 Membership

Administrative Services Committee

Committee Members

This Committee is entrusted with facilitating research so that it can be accomplished in the most expeditious manner. The Committee obtains information from the research Faculty as to their needs and problems. It then meets with administrative heads and service directors to discuss the various issues and how they might be resolved. Areas that might be considered for review include, but need not be limited to, the following: Accounts Payable, Animal Research, Biomedical Communications, Human Subject Research, Library Services, Medical Instrumentation, Purchasing, Personnel Office, Radiation Control, Receiving, Research Accounting, Research Administration, Safety Procedures and Statistical Services. The purpose of the Committee is not to duplicate the efforts of any existing committee, but rather to discover problems that are developing in areas where investigators find themselves stymied or unable to receive adequate response through normal channels. The Committee can then try to forestall such problems by meeting with the appropriate administrators or through discussions with the appropriate Dean.

Admissions Committee

Committee Members

The Admissions Committee is charged with the responsibility of selecting, evaluating and admitting to the School of Medicine the most academically, experientially and personally qualified candidates. To accomplish this task, each committee member is expected to participate in an Admissions Committee orientation program, conduct 15-25 evaluation interviews, write interview reports for each, review and rank applicants weekly, and attend approximately 20 Committee meetings during the “interview year” which runs from September through March. For the process to be effective and the Committee to function in the best interests of both the School and the applicants who have chosen to apply to our institution, significant participation in all of the above areas is essential. Interview days are on Fridays, and each interview is scheduled to last for one hour. Ranking is done individually at times convenient for the Member. Meetings are held at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesdays and last about one hour.

The Committee seeks members who will actively participate, be able to work together, and become a highly functional group. Ideally, the Committee should have a balanced representation of Ph.D. and M.D. members from both the Basic Science and Clinical Departments. Membership should be diverse to reflect the diversity the School seeks in its student body. To avoid possible conflict of interest, faculty members whose significant others and children may be applying for admission are requested to refrain voluntarily from all Committee work during that year.

Animal Resources Committee

Committee Members

Members from the School of Medicine are appointed by the Dean on recommendation of the School Council. Members from other divisions of the University are appointed by the Vice President for Medical Affairs. The Committee assures compliance with existing regulations and policies regarding the care of all animals in research. The Committee advises the University Veterinarian and the University School of Medicine administration on the policies dealing with the care, housing and use of research animals. It meets monthly for 2-3 hours. Much of the routine work is performed by the Chairperson and the Director, Division of Veterinary Resources.

Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee

Committee Members

This Committee performs a detailed review and evaluation of all faculty proposed for initial appointment or promotion to the rank of Professor or Associate Professor.  All proposals for the award of tenure are considered by the Committee.  The Committee is advisory to the Dean and forwards to the Dean its detailed review and recommendations.   The major  committee meeting occurs in October and usually takes two full days, with an additional half day to hear appeals of the Committee's initial evaluation.  Appointments of new faculty made are reviewed in short meetings throughout the year.  Typically three to four such meetings occur.  The Committee membership is made up of tenured Professors as well as three Professors selected from the Clinical Educator and Research tracks.  These three members participate fully in the deliberations of the Committee, but do not vote on the award of tenure.  Departmental chairpersons are not eligible to serve.

Members are appointed to staggered four year terms, which may be extended if the member serves as Committee Chair-elect or Past Chair.

The Committee may also, from time to time, consider policy issues pertaining to appointment, promotion, and tenure and make reports and recommendations to the School Council and the Dean.

Executive Faculty Curriculum Steering Committee

Committee Members

The Executive Faculty Curriculum Steering Committee is charged with managing and improving the medical curriculum at the Miami campus and the Boca Raton campus at Florida Atlantic University. It has the authority to make any changes it deems necessary in the medical curriculum in order for the school to fulfill its undergraduate medical education mission. Members of the committee are appointed by the Dean from nominees submitted by the school council, department chairs, the existing committee, and self-nominated faculty volunteers. Members serve a three-year term. The committee meets weekly for one hour on Tuesday mornings at 8:00 am. Members are expected to have demonstrated a professional interest and accomplishments in medical education.

Executive Promotions Committee

Committee Members

The Executive Promotions Committee serves a vital role in the promotions and disciplinary process for medical students.  The Committee meets with students who wish to appeal recommendations made by a class promotions committee, the medical education administration, or the Council for Honorable and Professional Conduct.  Upon hearing an appeal, members of the Committee decide whether to uphold, modify or set aside recommendations.  Deliberations not only focus on academic performance, but also on student professionalism and personal circumstances.  The Committee is assisted by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Student Administration.  Psychologists and psychiatrists are also available to assist.  Students who disagree with the Committee's recommendations can appeal them to the Dean.  Committee members typically have extensive teaching experience.  The Committee meets when appeals are pending, approximately eight (8) times per year.  Meetings take place in the late afternoon, and every effort is made to accommodate members' schedules. 

Honors Program in Medical Education Committee

Committee Members

This Committee is charged with selecting graduating high school seniors to participate in the Honors Program in Medicine (6-7 year BS/MD program), and University of Miami undergraduates for admission to the Medical Scholars Program (7-year BS or BA/MD program). Committee members are directly involved in interviewing and selecting students, setting program policy, undergraduate guidance, monitoring student performance, and promoting students to the School of Medicine. Previous medical admissions experience and interviewing skills are desirable; some knowledge of high school aptitude measures (SAT, ACH, ACT) and premedical education requirements at UM would be helpful. Each committee member will conduct 8-12 interviews and is required to attend 6-8 meetings per year at the School of Medicine, mainly between January and April, and for a brief period in June. To avoid possible conflict of interest, faculty members who are elected to this Committee are asked to voluntarily refrain from Committee work during the year(s) that their children may make application to the programs listed above.

Information Resources Committee

Committee Members

This Committee is charged with academic issues concerning computerized access to local, national and international data bases, transfer and retrieval of information electronically, and other related matters identified by the Committee. The Committee was established in 1995, and the initial charge was to determine: the needs of the Faculty; identify the equipment and services currently available to the Faculty; compare the information resources and systems at other institutions with those available here, and to determine the needs of this School; determine budgetary requirements to meet acceptable standards; make recommendations concerning access to resources; make recommendations concerning academic and clinical links and coordination; and, educate the Faculty. Meetings are held twice monthly.

MD/PhD Program Committee

Committee Members

The MD/PhD Program Committee is responsible for oversight of the school’s MD/PhD Program and to work with the Program’s Director in recruiting, admissions, development and implementation of program content, evaluation of student progress, student affairs and advising, and setting program policies in consultation with the Director and the Dean. The MD/PhD Program Committee meets approximately 10 times per year and the admissions workload includes the review of applicant files, selection of candidates to interview, interviewing candidates, writing interview reports, evaluating applicant files for admission, making admissions decisions to the Program, identification of the Dean’s Fellowship nominees, and helping to recruit strong candidates.

Medical Library Committee

Committee Members

The Calder Medical Library Committee functions in collaboration with the library faculty and staff to:

• Provide direct input and feedback on library collections, services and policies
• Gather input and feedback from represented constituencies
• Disseminate information from the library to represented constituencies
• Advocate for the Calder Library
• Help assure that the Calder Library administration is aware of campus and community programs, initiatives and plans that might have an impact on library services
• Help identify opportunities for collaboration between the Calder Library and other UM campus and community organizations

Each year, one committee meeting will be devoted to a "state-of-the library" report and one to gathering client service information. A committee member may be asked to accompany the library faculty or staff to presentations at the Medical School Council or to meetings of the departmental Chairs.

Scientific Awards Committee

Committee Members

This Committee is composed of senior faculty members (Associate and Full Professors) who are active, productive researchers. Most of these individuals have served as consultants for national funding agencies and have been principal investigators of funded grants from national agencies. The Committee includes faculty members with expertise in clinical research as well as those with expertise in basic research. The Committee is responsible for recommending to the Deputy Dean for Research and Graduate Studies the distribution of research funds including the Emergency Fund and the Stanley Glaser Awards. In addition to these specific activities, the Committee also serves as an advisory body to the Dean of the School of Medicine and Deputy Dean for Research and Graduate Studies on all matters relating to research and researchers at the School of Medicine. The Committee meets on a monthly basis for approximately 1 hour. At the time of grant reviews, the Committee holds longer meetings of 4-5 hours. From time to time, it is necessary to appoint subcommittees for specific projects. These duties are shared among Committee members, and do not represent a substantial time commitment. The committee performs a valuable service for the School. It is a "working" committee and a firm commitment of time must be made by the Committee members.