Dean Jeffrey Flier began the February Faculty Council meeting by presenting plans for the reorganization of the Quad preclinical departments. In response to both the Strategic Planning Initiative and change in the fiscal and facilities situations, the challenge over the past year has been to consider how to utilize School resources and organize research to support the HMS community. Last summer, Flier charged an advisory committee with examining the interfaces between Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology at HMS and asked members to make recommendations about how these disciplines might be positioned in the future. He also noted that there have been limited strategic recruitments in Neurobiology, Systems Biology, Immunology, and Global Health and Social Medicine. Flier outlined four guiding principles for the reorganization: revitalize the educational mission of the School; create a more unified, supportive and inclusive community; increase and coordinate strategic investments in tools and technology; and seize rapidly expanding opportunities in biomedical research to increase human well-being.
Pathology RestructuringFlier then addressed the planned restructuring of the HMS Department of Pathology, as part of the strategic planning effort to align the organization of the preclinical departments with evolving scientific goals in the face of significant space and financial challenges. A new HMS Pathology Executive Committee comprising senior leaders across the HMS pathology community will be created. Flier explained that when the plan is fully implemented over the next year, HMS Pathology will have an academic structure and appointing authority similar to that of the HMS Department of Medicine. He added that the existing Quad Pathology faculty will be realigned with other departments.
Space IssuesNext, Flier discussed the Quad space reorganization, noting that there is limited space for additional recruitment into areas of strategic growth, that the most advantageous adjacencies among researchers are not yet realized and that aging research facilities require physical rehabilitation. As a result, he said, options for creating space for program and departmental expansion are under consideration. He said that future planning would continue to further align departments with strategic priorities of the School, encourage more cross-departmental and cross-institutional collaboration, improve research space productivity and increase interest in translational research while maintaining strength in basic sciences.
Ombuds, CME and AdmissionsFlier then introduced Melissa Brodrick, the HMS ombudsperson, who presented the Ombuds Office annual report, prepared by Linda Wilcox, who retired in February. Brodrick pointed out some of the areas of concern highlighted in the report, including unhealthy supervisory practices, unskilled supervisors and overemphasis on individual achievement. Brodrick expressed her desire for the Ombuds Office to have a preventive role and to resolve issues at lower levels in the organization before they escalate. She recommended leadership training and assessment of leadership skills during hiring and promotion.
Rick Mills, dean for education and global program administration, spoke next on the topic of continuing medical education (CME). He discussed the HMS relationship with Pri-Med, a company that runs CME conferences, and the need to strike a balance between avoiding any conflicts of interest and providing cost-effective continuing education opportunities for physicians.
Jules Dienstag, dean for medical education, then presented on the topic of new admissions requirements. He gave a brief overview of how admissions requirements have changed over the years. In 2004, the Working Group on Admissions Requirements was formed to make recommendations for the admissions criteria. He also referenced a report from the AAMC, titled, “Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians.”
