I. Professor Teitelbaum opened the meeting at 5:05 p.m. in Ross 117, in Drs. Williams’ and Richardson’s absence. Present: Drs. Abrams, Akman, Barnett, Berg, Berrigan, Brindle, Chiaramello, Cleary, Collins, Golder, Goldstein, Katz, Knoll, Lipson, Little, Markus, Mr. McGraw, Drs. Mendelowitz, Miller, Noben-Trauth, Pearl, Philips, Sadeghi, Simmens, Mr. Teitelbaum, Dr. Turley; Dr. Scott, Dean Katz, Dr. Hirshfield, Mr. Chelluri (SPHHS Student); Parliamentarian Orenstein. Absent: Drs. Abell, Aly, Arce, Bosch, Mr. Cawley, Drs. Cohen, D’Angelo, Gaba, Geist, Goodrich, Guidotti, Guritzky, Haider, Hales, Hawdon, Hill, Hotez, Jones, Kennedy, Latham, Lucas, Manner, McCaffrey, Ottolini, Polin, Richardson, Rosenberg, Siegel, Venbrux, Verme, Vyas, Walia; Dr. Williams, Dr. Lossing.

II. Approval of Dr. Orenstein as Substitute Parliamentarian: Professor Teitelbaum asked for a suspension of the rules to introduce an item not on the agenda. Suspension of the rules was moved, seconded, and passed. In response to Professor Teitelbaum, a motion was then made, seconded, and passed to approve Dr. Orenstein as Parliamentarian in Dr. Lossing’s absence.

III. Minutes: The minutes of November 2, 2005, were approved as distributed.

IV. Executive Committee Report: A list of Executive Committee activity since the previous Senate meeting was provided with the agenda. Professor Teitelbaum highlighted the formation of a Subcommittee on Departmental Reviews; nominations to four standing committees; and evaluation of the proposal for a Master’s in Emergency Preparedness which is on today’s agenda.

V. Action Items

A. Standing Committees: The following nominations were proposed by the Executive Committee: for the Committee on Undergraduate Medical Curricula [CUMC], Dr. Seides to replace Dr. Steinberg; for the Health Sciences Curriculum Committee, Ms. Barnett to replace Dr. Sherwin; for the SMHS APT Committee, Dr. El-Mohandes to replace Professor Cawley during his sabbatical; and for the SPHHS APT, Dr. A. Greenberg to replace Dr. Eastaugh during his sabbatical. Dr. Knoll submitted a second nomination for the CUMC, and the results for this committee were tabled pending inquiry regarding the candidate’s availability. [It subsequently developed that the candidate was not free to run at this time, and the Senate, by email poll, confirmed the first candidate.] A motion to approve the nominees for the remaining three committees was made, seconded, and passed.

B. Granting of Degrees: Lists of candidates for degrees in the SPHHS and in Health Sciences programs were provided at the meeting. The lists represented candidates who had applied for the fall graduation after graduation lists had been submitted to the Senate in November. Dean Katz requested approval of the SPHHS candidates, stating that all fulfilled requirements for graduation. Approval was moved, seconded, and passed. On behalf of Dean Johnson, Dr. Silver requested approval of candidates in the Health Sciences. Approval was moved, seconded, and passed.

C. Resolution for the Establishment of a MSHS in Emergency Services Management: A resolution and a description of the proposed program were distributed with the agenda. Dr. Silver explained that currently a certificate program is offered, to which will be added existing graduate and research courses. She added that because it is a distance learning program, it will be available locally, regionally, and nationally, to any emergency response person. A motion to approve the proposed program was made and seconded.

Dr. Akman asked whether other schools offer Master’s programs in Emergency Services. Dr. Monosky replied in the affirmative, but explained that the others are offered at operational levels, whereas the proposed program is unique in developing leadership roles.

The motion was then voted on and was passed.

VI. Information Items

A. Update on Departmental Reviews: Dr. Scott explained that the Medical Center has a departmental review process which asks that departments be reviewed every seven years, and a review was begun for Anatomy; however, different interpretations of existing documents, and apparent discrepancies within those documents, led him to request a review of the process by the Executive Committee and Senate. He stated that a Subcommittee on Departmental Review was formed by the Executive Committee and has nearly completed a revised process, which he anticipated will be submitted to the Executive Committee in February and to the Senate in May. He expressed the hope that, if the Executive Committee approves, the Anatomy review may be resumed in the spring, even before the Senate meeting, so that the work accomplished does not become outdated.

B. Search Reports

1. Dermatology: For Dr. El-Bayoumi, Dr. Simon reported that negotiations are taking place with one candidate, and two more may be interviewed.

2. Urology (completed): Dr. Scott announced the completion of this search with the selection of Dr. Tom Jarrett of Johns Hopkins, an internationally renowned endo-urologist.

3. Exercise Science: Dr. Battle had submitted a written report. In summary, Dean Katz stated that two candidates were recommended by the search committee, but for various reasons neither had worked out, and the committee is identifying additional candidates.

4. Global Health (completed): Dean Katz announced the appointment as Chair of Dr. Jim Sherry, M.D., PH.D., to start June 1. She briefly described his extensive experience in global health organizations and policy.

5. Prevention and Community Health: Dr. Cleary reported that ads have been placed and are expected to be out in the next two weeks; it is anticipated that CV’s will be reviewed in March.

Dr. Knoll asked about the status of the Pathology Search. Dr. Scott explained that when he became Dean, there were four interim or acting chairs: in the first year, Drs. Akman and Larsen were confirmed as permanent chairs; this year the Urology search has been completed; and Pathology was the fourth. Additionally, he explained that he had chosen to have a working group look at Pathology first, because it is unique in having both basic science and clinical orientations. So that commitments may be made for Urology and Dermatology, he proposed forming the Pathology search committee this spring, the search to start at the beginning of the academic year. Dr. Knoll expressed concern that it would then take a further year or two for the search to be completed, but Dr. Scott noted that searches differ in length.

VII. University Senate Report: Dr. Simon reported that issues of concern to the Senate include the 4x4 curriculum, and the narrow vote to unionize part-time faculty, which the University is appealing. He noted that because adjunct faculty are paid very little, and if they unionize would ask for more money, unionization could lead to a loss of part-time faculty. He also reported a concern to have students become more engaged, since, for whatever reason, many undergraduates are transferring away from GW. He stated that while these issues do not affect the Medical Center directly, they do have an impact on it. He further reported that the University Budget is $7 million in deficit, and the Senate is holding a special meeting to discuss it. He also noted a report on emergency response.

To Dr. Akman, Dr. Scott explained that the University’s $7 million deficit does not affect us directly, but agreed with Dr. Simon that what happens on the University side affects us indirectly.

VII. Administrative Announcements

A. Vice President’s Report: Dr. Scott and Dean Katz reported for Dr. Williams. Dr. Scott explained that the Strategic Plan is basically completed and goes to the Board of Trustees next week for review, after which Dr. Williams has planned a series of town meetings to get it out to the faculty. He explained that the process developed from groups on Research, Clinical, Education, and Internal and External Communications between entities. Dean Katz added that she and Dr. Scott chaired the Education Committee, which she described as a very positive experience. She stated that the plan reflects issues of a broad spectrum of the Medical Center. Noting that it does involve a financial commitment, and she expressed the hope that it will be endorsed by the Board.

To Professor Teitelbaum, both Deans said they had no new information on Lot 54 (the Old Hospital site).

B. SPHHS: Dean Katz summarized her report as including the Strategic Plan [Item A, above]; the appointment of Dr. Sherry as Global Health Chair [VI.B.4, above]; the welcoming of 70 new students; and a busy start to a new semester.

C. SMHS: Dr. Scott reported that the number of applications to the medical school is probably the highest in history, with secondary applications certainly the highest. He stated that over half of first-year students selected a “track” in the new track system, with Global Health drawing the largest number. He reported the initiation of a new Humanities program, with Dr. Linda Raphael of the English department conducting the first group of seminars. He also reported that preliminary early Match results are very good.

To Dr. Brem, Dr. Scott explained that the Humanities program is starting with literature, and the hope is to extend it to other areas: initial seminars consist of literature readings on medically related topics, and a possible visual arts program will soon be discussed. He encouraged faculty interested in teaching in these areas to let him know. To other questions, he clarified that the program is not a track but a separate curriculum, and is an elective, offered late afternoons.

D. Health Sciences: Dr. Silver reported that Health Sciences welcomed 93 new students; is awaiting a decision on accreditation of the nursing program, which it anticipates will be positive; and will hold its graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 20, at 4:00 p.m.

E. Research: Dr. Hirshfield alerted the faculty to two important issues: (1) A problem with closing out of sponsored projects awards (filing of final reports with the sponsor), which, though done by GCAS, requires signoff and input from the Principal Investigator. She requested all PI’s to respond promptly to anyone from the University who is asking them to close out an award. (2) SMHS faculty are behind other GW schools in taking the required web-based financial training, “Fiscal Responsibility and Compliance at GWU,” and are asked to repair this deficiency as quickly as possible. [Contact person for the training is Ed Kobrinski, Office of the CRO, ejkobrin@gwu.edu]. She noted that, along with other schools nationwide, GW is experiencing a downturn in funding. In a positive light, she announced that Dr. Fitzhugh Mullan received a Kellogg grant of $1.1 million. She also reported that Research Day, March 31, has had 215 abstracts submitted, and the Marvin Center is being investigated as a larger venue. She asked any faculty with special guests they would like to invite, to contact her office. She also reported that she is working with Children’s National Medical Center on a planning grant to NIH for a new program for funding clinical research. She explained that GW’s contribution would be primarily educational: to provide resources for clinical and translational research, and to train the next generation of scientists.

In response to Dr. Werling, Dr. Hirshfield expressed the hope of having on-line registration for Research Day. Dr. Goldstein invited clinical faculty to volunteer to help judge the large number of medical student poster presentations.

VIII. Brief Statements: None

IX. There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 5:50.