I. Dr. Williams opened the meeting at 5:05.

II. The minutes of the September 22, 2005, were approved as distributed.

III. Dr. Orenstein as Parliamentarian: Dr. Richardson asked for a suspension of the rules, which was granted. He then asked the Assembly’s approval to have Dr. Jan Orenstein (Path) as Parliamentarian in the absence of Dr. Lossing. Approval was moved, seconded, and passed.

IV. Executive Committee and Senate Report: A list of Executive Committee and Senate activity since the previous Assembly meeting was provided with the agenda. Dr. Richardson noted that in February, the Senate approved an MS in Emergency Services Management. He reported that the Executive Committee recommended forming a Subcommittee on Departmental Review to review and clarify the departmental review process, and a subcommittee was subsequently formed. He stated that after several meetings, it submitted to the Executive Committee a final draft of a revised process, which was approved and will be submitted to the Senate on May 3. A motion to accept the Executive Committee Report was made, seconded, and passed.

V. Action Item: University Senate Elections: Dr. Richardson explained that elections were being held for Basic Science and Clinical positions on the University Senate. For the Basic Science seat, only one nomination had been received, Dr. Gallo (Biochemistry). There were no nominations from the floor. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the nomination of Dr. Gallo by acclamation. For the Clinical seat, the Assembly voted by secret ballot for the two nominees, Dr. Parenti (Medicine) and Dr. Delaney (Medicine). The meeting proceeded while the balloting took place.

VI. Strategic Plan: A summary of the Mission, Vision, and Goals of the Strategic Plan was provided at the meeting. Dr. Williams explained that he would present an update on progress so far in an extensive strategic planning process that has been taking place at the request of the Board of Trustees. He stated that the Board has approved the Mission, Vision, and Goals, and expressed the hope of making a presentation on finances to them at the May meeting.

Dr. Williams explained that AMC, the consulting company, first conducted an external and internal Environmental Assessment which involved interviews with over 70 faculty members and eleven focus groups, or about 150 total faculty. He added that a Steering Committee of entity leaders was then assembled. Referring to the second slide on p. 1, he explained that the focus of the Mission, Vision, and Goals was the intersection of the three main components of Hospital, Physicians, and Schools. He stated that strategy teams were formed in Education, Research, Patient Care, and Communication and Collaboration, and worked with the Steering Committee to prioritize programs. Both former and new Mission and Vision Statements were provided. Dr. Williams explained that the former statements had been viewed as too cumbersome, and that after much debate and hard work, the strategic teams had developed the new statements which in turn were approved by the Board of Trustees at its last meeting. He stated that the teams had worked equally hard on the Strategic Goals listed on p. 4 in four categories—Institutional, Educational, Clinical, and Research—and these also were approved by the Board.

He stated that next, the planning will address metrics, strategies and tactics, and a full-time person will be hired who will be responsible for implementation. He added that a Finance Plan is being developed, and elements of the Strategic Plan will be incorporated into the Budget, which will be presented to the Board of Trustees in May. Overall, Dr. Williams reported that the Board is very pleased with what the Medical Center has developed: they found it organized, and praised it for recognizing and incorporating the external environment while not abandoning what we do well. He stated that he will make a much more detailed presentation in the future, but in the meantime would like to hear from the faculty on anything they feel has been left out. He stressed the seriousness of the plan with regard to its serving as a basis for financial support from the University. He added that new Development and Advancement approaches will also be undertaken, and are being presented to the Committee of Chairs over a period of several meetings.

Dr. Keiser (Pathology) noted that a number of Medical Centers are taking on local health care needs, and asked whether this aspect was being included in the Strategic Plan. Dr. Williams confirmed that while it does not show in the brief summary information provided today, a very strong commitment to our locale becomes apparent in the detailed plan.

Dr. Guidotti praised the plan for helping to define where we are going, and agreed that it helps the community. Noting that the service component represents healing, he recommended that it capture prevention as well. Dr. Williams again stressed that in the full plan, public health runs through the document, with prevention a key component. He expressed the hope of a more detailed presentation within the next month and a half.

VII. Administrative Announcements

A. Provost and Vice President’s Report: Dr. Williams announced that Dr. Mary Beth Bigley has completed her DrPH. The assembled responded with applause.

Dr. Williams reported that the University has filed an amended Campus Plan with the city. He explained that to meet a requirement to provide housing for 70% of students, a residence hall will be built behind the School without Walls, and another dormitory on the Mt. Vernon campus. Concerning Square 54 [Old Hospital Site], he explained that the University proposes to the city a mixed residential and commercial use, in return for adding 3M sq. ft. to the University campus density. He stated that the D.C. Office of Planning indicate its support, and the next step is the Board of Zoning approval. He expressed the hope that the process may be completed by early 2007.

In other areas, Dr. Williams reported that the National Capital Medical Center proposal for the old DC General site is still under discussion, with opposition to bypassing the CON indicated. He noted that the University has created a task force to study what a new science building would consist of; the Medical Center is participating along with other schools. Lastly, he described the University’s commitment to a plan to tear down Himmelfarb Library and build up seven stories, for a building that would house the SPHHS and have retail on the first floor; an additional five stories would also be built on the loading dock area, where Himmelfarb could be relocated.

B. SPHHS: Dean Katz reported much activity since the last meeting. She announced a new Chair of Global Health, to start June 1: Jim Sherry, M.D., Ph.D., who brings an extensive background and broad experience in the field. She added that the search in Exercise Science continues, and Prevention and Community Health has placed ads and is receiving CV’s.

Dean Katz reported on a variety of expanding relationships. She stated that the Jacobs Institute for Women’s Health has relocated to the SPHHS in the Department of Health Policy, and it is hoped will be fully integrated with the School; it also brings a well-known journal which will carry the SPHHS name. She stated that she has just received notification from Robert Wood Johnson of a planning grant to establish a commission on a program focusing on health disparities and the grass-roots reasons behind them. With regard to the $5M line item in the DC Council Budget, she stated that contracts have been signed for Medicaid, and they are working on programs for HIV/AIDS and Cancer. She announced a new University-wide AIDS Institute that involves both Dr. A. Greenberg and Dr. G. Simon. Additionally, she stated that MOU’s have been signed with a number of local health departments; the School is working on a MOU with the V.A.; and they are working more closely with the Woodrow Wilson Center, for which she gave special thanks to Dr. Greenberg. She also reported that the Association of Public Health Laboratories will establish a program in which we renovate lab space here and bring in other lab people world-wide to train.

Dr. Keiser asked what will be taught in the labs. Dr. Greenberg replied that subjects will be determined with input from faculty, but in general will concern teaching and management, including quality assurance and quality control.

C. Health Sciences: Dean Johnson reported a good year to date, and adjustment to the new structure of three departments and three Chairs. Noting a good response to the PA program, she stated that they are considering expanding it by a total of ten students over two years. She estimated that the Pharmacogenomics program with Shenandoah, which started with seven students last year due to its just having been formed, will increase by 15-20 this year, for a total number of 22-27 students in the program by Fall 2006. She stated that Physical Therapy received 150 applications for 24 slots, and more are responding positively than anticipated. She reported development of a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, adding that their initial Nursing site visit in October met all standards. Concerning a $2M grant from the Department of Homeland Security to develop materials for nurses on-line, she stated that the materials are about ready to go live and it is hoped will serve as a national standard. With regard to new programs, she stated that the Curriculum Committee has approved a grant-funded Certificate program in Spirituality and Health. She noted that the current policy is not to seek brand-new programs, but rather to grow and build off the programs they already have.

C. SMHS: Dr. Scott noted that at the last meeting, he reported that the entering class size had increased to 177 students inadvertently (because more had chosen to come than had been anticipated); in the interim, the AAMC has instituted pressure on medical schools to increase class size because of an anticipated physician shortage. In response, he stated that the School is discussing whether to increase class size by ten students, and what impacts it would have.

In other areas, Dr. Scott announced Match Day on Thursday, March 16. He stated that early indications from subspecialty matches are strong for both students and the institution, especially in ophthalmology, neurology, and urology. He warmly welcomed Dr. Thomas Jarrett as Chair of Urology, and noted that a search continues in Dermatology. He reported that the SMHS was chosen as one of five medical schools for a study of the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women, funded by the May Foundation.

Noting that he and Dean Katz are meeting with planners on Lot 54 concerning a tenant for the building there, he stressed the advantage to the Medical Center of having someone we are synergistic with, and encouraged suggestions from faculty.

D. Institute for Biomedical Sciences [IBS]: Dr. Werling reported that IBS, the PhD-granting unit, has received 225 applications; of these, about 50 candidates have been interviewed for the regular Ph.D. program, and 15 for the NIH partnership program. She added that ultimately they will select 8-10 candidates for the regular program, and 4 for the partnership program.

E. Research: Dr. Hirshfield announced the addition to the Biochemistry faculty of Dr. Yan Su, a distinguished cancer researcher. She reported very high scores in NIH study sections for Drs. Hawley (Anat), Howe (Psych), Neiderhiser (Psych), and Mendelowitz (Pharm/Phys). She reported that her office is submitting a clinical and translational planning grant application with Children’s, which it is hoped will serve as a window of opportunity for clinical research. She expressed appreciation to all who have contributed to this application, and noted that if funding is awarded, she will be asking for more help.

Dr. Hirshfield announced that an exciting day is planned for March 31, Research Day, and she commended Dr. Hu for her “incredible” job with Committee on Research in setting the agenda and bringing in speakers. She noted that 231 abstracts have been submitted, a substantial increase over previous years. She encouraged all faculty to attend, noting that plenary talks will be in Ross Hall but the main poster session will be at the Marvin Center. Dr. Hu added that faculty and post-graduate posters will also be displayed in Ross. In other areas, Dr. Hirshfield reported that very impressive Gil fellowship applications have been received; a new HIV Institute has been set up at the University, involving Dr. Hotez and Dr. Greenberg; and a new director of Imaging Core Facilities has been named. Concerning compliance, she reported that procedures are going up on Blackboard; asked for faculty patience while a large number of student research activities are processed through IRB; and noted that Dr. Frances Noonan is now Chair of IACUC.

Dr. Scott also reported impressive research activity at the SMHS from clinical departments, including RO1’s in both Surgery and Emergency Medicine. He expressed pride in these awards and the momentum they represent.

Dr. Williams in turn expressed his thanks to the faculty for all the help they have given to the planning grant application with Children’s. He also stressed the importance of non-traditional grants received from such agencies as HHS and Homeland Security, which are increasingly important as NIH and other grant funds decrease.

VIII. Brief Statements

A. Richard B. and Lynne V. Cheney Cardiovascular Institute: Dr. Williams announced that Vice President and Mrs. Cheney have given the MFA and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences a charitable gift of $2.7M to start a cardiovascular institute in their names.

B. University Senate Election Results: Dr. Richardson announced that Dr. Delaney had won the clinical seat to the University Senate.

IX. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.