Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Jeffrey S. Flier began the meeting by introducing Lee Nadler, dean for clinical and translational research and the leader of Harvard Catalyst.
Nadler discussed the concept of One Harvard, comprised of 10 schools, 17 academic health centers, and 320 research institutions within driving distance of HMS.
He highlighted some of Harvard Catalyst’s achievements in the past five years including: the development of Harvard Catalyst profiles for all faculty; the creation of SHRINE, a software program linking electronic patient data records used for research queries and clinical trail support in five academic medical centers; eagle-i, a national network for discovery of biomedical resources; and One Integrated CRC Program, a centralized electronic protocol review for multi-institutional studies.
Nadler also presented the proposal HMS submitted to the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). In summer 2012, the NFLPA issued a pre-proposal invitation which specified that one site would be selected to receive $100 million over 10 years to search for new approaches to prevent, diagnose, mitigate and treat injuries and illnesses in both active and former NFL players.
Nadler informed the council that HMS’ pre-proposal team included William Meehan, Boston Children’s Hospital; Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Ross Zafonte, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brigham & Women’s Hospital; and Nadler and Herman Taylor, University of Mississippi Medical Center. Nadler briefly reviewed the proposal aims and announced that on Sept. 17, 2012 the NFLPA selected Harvard as a finalist.
Martin Samuels, professor of neurology and head of the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, inquired why Harvard pursued this study opportunity as opposed to other issues, such as AIDS. Nadler responded that football is just one of many contact sports played by children, adolescents and adults across the U.S. He said the study will inform how to prevent and treat traumatic injury. He concluded that the grant would be a non-competitive opportunity to bring many experts together to learn more about medical issues that can be applied to other areas of study.
Flier then invited HMS ombudsperson Melissa Brodrick to share the annual Ombuds Office report. She began with a brief overview of the role of the office as a highly confidential, independent and informal forum in which any faculty, staff, student or trainee may raise concerns that may be affecting their work or studies.
As a neutral entity, Brodrick said that the office provides conflict coaching, informal mediation, group facilitation, shuttle diplomacy and information regarding school resources and formal policies and procedures. The office also provides pro-active training in the areas of negotiation skills, managing conflict in the workplace, and addressing authorship disputes, among others., she said.
Brodrick shared the general demographics of those visiting the Ombuds Office and the categories of self-reported issues, including career management, research, work/academic environment, sexual harassment, discrimination, fair treatment and interpersonal dynamics. Last year, the Ombuds Office also provided preventative work through training and held 50 sessions last year at the three Harvard Longwood schools and affiliates, Brodrick said.
Richard Mills, executive dean for administration, then presented an overview of the School’s financial position and the planning underway to ensure a sustainable future.
Mills summarized the financial challenges HMS is facing due to real and anticipated declines in federal funding for research and education, and the lower rate of growth in the Harvard endowment. He outlined a variety of opportunities under consideration to improve the School’s financial position including: examining cost structure for increased efficiencies; developing a range of revenue opportunities, from external education to industry-sponsored research; partnering with hospitals to define a future mutually beneficial relationship model and examining opportunities for collaborative research.
A general discussion followed.
Dean Flier adjourned the meeting.
