Dean for Academic and Clinical Affairs Nancy Tarbell chaired the meeting in the absence of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Jeffrey S. Flier.
On behalf of Flier, Tarbell thanked the faculty council members for their contributions during the past year. She extended special appreciation members whose terms are expiring.
Tarbell announced that one of the scheduled presenters, Richard Frank, would be unable to attend the meeting due to travel delays.
Tarbell introduced Jules Dienstag, dean for medical education, to give a presentation on the Scholars in Medicine Program.
Dienstag explained that the program has its origins as one of the recommendations of the Principles of Medical Education Reform Initiative. This initiative recommended that the School require medical students to complete a scholarly, in-depth experience culminating in a substantive written product. He said the primary goal of the Scholars in Medicine Program is to provide every student with a mentored experience of scholarship.
Dienstag said the program is intended to spark curiosity, to develop critical thinking and to give each student a toolbox for discovery. He added that that the process is as important as the written product, as it creates a partnership between student and faculty member while accomplishing a shared goal.
Dienstag described the scholarly project as one that asks and answers a scholarly question and affords each student a substantive, independent role. For the faculty mentor, he said, it provides an opportunity to work with a student to develop an idea; to review and approve the student’s funding proposal; and to approve the final product.
The scholarly project may start in the first summer and may take four to 12 months to complete, Dienstag said. Project areas include biological bench research, clinical and translational research, epidemiology, outcomes research, health care policy and health services, medical education, medical humanities (medical ethics, education, anthropology, history of medicine), and global and community health.
Dienstag then opened the topic for discussion.
Martin Samuels, professor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, suggested that there be a commitment of involvement from senior faculty. Sheila Barnett, associate professor of anaesthesia at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, asked if there was an outreach plan to involve clinical faculty, to which Dienstag replied that the richness of the entire faculty should be available to students. Nawal Nour, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Brigham and Women’s, asked whether joint projects would be allowed, and Dienstag said yes, so long as each student does his or her own write-up.
Helen Shields, professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess, noted that medical education should not fall under medical humanities (as it did on Dienstag’s slide) and Dienstag said he would amend the slide. Charles Day, associate professor of orthopedics at Beth Israel Deaconess, asked whether the Scholars in Medicine Program would be set up similarly to the Pasteur Program, through which Day has mentored students. Dienstag responded that the Scholars in Medicine Program was modeled in part after the Pasteur Program.
Tarbell introduced Kevin Casey, associate vice president of public affairs and communication at Harvard University, to give a federal legislative report.
Casey gave an update on the 2011 federal budget. He said that his office has worked to advocate for the maintenance of research funding levels allocated prior to the ARRA funding boost. He noted that funding for researchers in Massachusetts accounts for 10 percent of the NIH budget. Casey reported that there has been considerable pushback to budget reductions from concerned constituents who are worried about the future of Medicare and Medicaid.
Casey predicted that budget caps would force Congress to cut 2012 spending to below 2008 funding levels. Casey said that his office has been meeting with legislators and that there is an opportunity for Harvard to advocate for innovation in biomedical research. He emphasized that funding for research should not be considered a partisan issue.
Casey said that polling data suggest that university presidents, researchers and deans of medical school are viewed as credible and garner a high level of public trust. However, people also tell pollsters that the NIH ought to be subject to the same budget cuts faced by other federal agencies. Casey said that the United States must continue to be a place where the best and brightest want to come and study.
Casey invited faculty members to send examples of the impact of budget cuts to his office, noting that examples could be anecdotal. He also suggested collaborating with industry to determine ways to put a value on the impact of reduced funding. Marjorie Oettinger, professor of genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital, commented that this is a national security issue as well, as there is a danger in letting innovation move elsewhere.
Michael Watkins, associate professor of surgery at Mass General, asked if Casey thought that legislators would respond to communication and data. Casey responded that money for Harvard is a difficult pitch in an election year, but that we need to persuade lawmakers that it is the best thing to do. Casey also emphasized the importance of developing champions.
David Clapham, Aldo R. Castaneda Professor of Cardiovascular Research at Children’s Hospital Boston, expressed concerns about how interactions between industry and academia are viewed. Bruce Donoff, the Walter C. Guralnick Distinguished Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and dean of the School of Dental Medicine, expressed his concern for the peer-review system in light of lobbying. Casey replied that he shared Donoff’s concern.
Tarbell announced that members with ideas for next fall’s meeting should contact Sheila Barnett, the incoming vice chair of the Faculty Council. Tarbell then adjourned the meeting.
