II. The minutes of the meeting of May 3, 2006, were approved as distributed.

III. Advise and Consent to Dr. John Lossing as Parliamentarian for 2006-07, and to a Substitute Parliamentarian for This Meeting: After noting that Dr. Lossing (VF-Neurol), a Certified Parliamentarian, could not be here this evening, Dr. Williams asked the Senate’s advice and consent to his appointment as Parliamentarian for the remainder of the academic year. A motion to offer the Senate’s advice and consent was made, seconded, and passed. Dr. Williams then asked Dr. A. Goldstein (Biochemistry) to serve as Parliamentarian for this meeting.

IV. Executive Committee Report: Professor Teitelbaum provided a review of Executive Committee activity since the May Senate meeting. He reported that the committee approved the initiation of departmental reviews in Biochemistry and Surgery, and of a Chair search in Pathology; and it developed and approved modifications for the Goals and Objectives for the M.D. Curriculum, and for the Departmental Review Process, for Senate review today. He also noted two proposals involving modifications to the Faculty Organization Plan that will come before the Faculty Assembly: to abolish the standing committee on Expedited Searches, and to require rotation of the Executive Committee Chair position between the two schools. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to accept the Executive Committee report.

V. Action Items

A.. Approve Chairs and Members of Standing Committees for 2006-07: A list of Executive Committee nominations to Senate standing committees for 2006-07 had been provided with the agenda. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the slate, pending investigation of one nominee’s status. The nominee’s status was later found to be appropriate.

B. Approval of Granting of Degrees in the School of Public Health and Health Services [SPHHS] and in the Health Sciences [HS] Programs of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences [SMHS] for Students Graduating in Summer 2006: Lists of candidates for degrees in SPHHS and HS programs were provided at the meeting. For Dean Katz, Dr. Williams asked the Senate’s approval for granting of the degrees applied for by the SPHHS candidates. A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed. For Dean Johnson, Dr. Alexander requested the Senate’s approval of candidates in the Health Sciences Programs. A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed.

C. Revisions to Goals and Objectives of the M.D. Curriculum: A document showing the proposed revisions was provided with the agenda, and a second copy which corrected typographical errors was provided at the meeting. Dr. Geist, Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Medical Curricula [CUMC], explained that the committee had spent several months evaluating the Goals and Objectives—unchanged since 1997—in preparation for the upcoming LCME accreditation site visit. He added that an ad hoc committee then developed, and the CUMC approved, the revisions proposed today. He noted that as part of the evaluation, the Goals were compared with the those of the AAMC Medical School Objectives Project [MSOP] and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education [ACGME] Core Competencies, and a few revisions are proposed to bring them up to date with these organizations’ national standards. He also alerted the Senators to typographical errors in the document sent to them, which he enumerated, adding that a corrected document was provided at this meeting. He then reviewed and explained each proposed change as highlighted in the document, and submitted it to the Senate for approval on behalf of the CUMC.

A motion was made and seconded to approve revised Goals and Objectives as submitted. Dr. Williams complimented Dr. Geist and the CUMC on a “superb” job in incorporating changes mandated by national accrediting bodies without losing the original vision. The motion was then voted on and was passed.

D. Revised Policy on Departmental Review: Dr. Scott explained that the Executive Committee had reviewed the original policy [approved by the Senate on May 4, 1994] from January to May of this year, and an ac hoc committee under Dr. Hotez had developed a revised policy which the Executive Committee approved. He stated that the revised policy was submitted to the Senate in May; however, Dr. Wasserman had raised certain issues, which were referred back to the Executive Committee and the ad hoc committee; the ad hoc committee then developed a revised document which the Executive Committee approved and which is submitted to the Senate today. He reviewed the two changes as follows: (1) to the composition of the Self-Study Committee, bottom of p. 2, the requirement for “senior level” members of the faculty was changed to “appropriate” members, in consideration of very small departments or for situations where the addition of junior faculty was deemed appropriate; (2) Concerning the External Review Committee, on p. 3, Item 3, for clinical departments, it was deemed necessary to include someone from the MFA (but not of the department being reviewed). He explained that the greater complexity of the revised policy is due to the greater complexity of the organization since the original policy was created. To a question from the floor, he assented that the revisions address Dr. Wasserman’s concerns. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the revised Policy on Departmental Review as submitted.

VI. Information Items

A. Search Committee Reports

1. Dermatology: For Dr. El-Bayoumi, Dr. Scott reported that two candidates are being interviewed.

2. Exercise Science: Dr. Williams read a report submitted by Dr. Battle which stated that the committee is holding discussions with a final candidate.

3. Prevention and Community Health: Dr. Williams read a report from Dr. Cleary which stated that the committee has been interviewing three candidates and will interview a fourth in September.

B. Presidential Search Report: Pending Dr. Simon’s arrival, Dr. Williams provided a preliminary review, noting that the committee hopes to interview candidates as early as January, to determine finalists by April, and to select a new President in May or June. Dr. Simon reported that the search committee has met twice. He stated that ads have been placed, and a search firm has been selected, which is conducting initial interviews and contacting candidates. He expressed the hope that the committee will begin reviewing CV’s in a month, and invited faculty who know of a desirable candidate to contact him.

C. Departmental Reviews Report: Dr. Scott reported that Biochemistry and Surgery are scheduled for review this year under the new process approved today. He stated that the Anatomy review has just been completed: the external review committee consisted of the Anatomy chairs of the universities of Utah and Florida, and the chair of Chemistry at GW, who were very positive. He added that he will share the written report when it is received.

VII. Standing Committee Annual Reports [Deferred from May]

A. Medical Student Evaluation Committee Annual Report: Postponed.

B. Elections Committee Report: Dr. Goldstein reported that Executive Committee elections and Departmental elections are completed, and the new Senate list is provided at the front of the room.

VIII. Report on University Senate Activity: After noting that the Senate did not meet over the summer, Dr. Biles highlighted two issues of concern: (1) The University Budget, which is balanced so far this year but is projected to show a deficit for next year; and (2) the proposal to change to a “4x4” curriculum. He also noted the importance of the Presidential Search, and invited faculty to address any questions to Dr. G. Simon (Medicine), a member of the Search Committee, or to Professor S. Rosenbaum (Health Policy), who is on the Faculty Consultative Committee.

XI. Administrative Announcements

A. Provost and Vice President’s Report: Dr. Williams recalled that a Task Force on Advancement was set up to interface with the University and community, and also to meet with groups to determine a vision for the University and to make recommendations concerning its next President. He announced a forum for staff and faculty on September 20, from 10:00-11:30, at the School of Media and Public Affairs, and a second forum from 12:30-2:00 at the Elliott School; a written announcement will follow.

Dr. Williams reported that the University Campus Plan has been submitted to the city, and is supported by the Office of Planning. He added that a judge dismissed a case brought by some community members against the city, adding that the Plan has a large number of supporters in the community. He noted three meetings to be held this fall, and expressed the hope of a ruling in January. He explained that the Plan consists of three parts: (1) use of the old hospital site; (2) a request to increase campus density from 400,000 sq. ft. to 2M sq. ft. on campus plus 1M for the old hospital site; (3) an alliance with the School without Walls, in which the school would be rebuilt with a residence hall for GW in the back.

Dr. Williams alerted the faculty to a pending civil suit which is twelve years old and which was found to have no merit by the Justice Department, national medical organizations, or other universities, but which was nevertheless delayed for five years by a presiding judge, who then ruled against GW. The case is entering mediation.

B. SPHHS Report: For Dean Katz, Dr. Williams reported that 300 new students have arrived; Dr. Jim Sherry, Chair of Global Health, has been introduced to the department; and various new faculty will be introduced at the Faculty Assembly later this month. He reported a successful Orientation with President Trachtenberg as speaker. He stated that the school’s tenth anniversary is the cover story of Medicine and Health; festivities include the inaugural Public Health Grand Rounds on September 12 with Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC Director, as speaker. He reported 117 new students in the new Health Communication and Marketing program, and a self-study for the upcoming accreditation site visit is under way.

C. SMHS Report: Dr. Scott reported that new residents arrived in July, and the new Ph.D. class has just started. He announced that the medical school received over 11,000 applications and 9,000 secondary applications for its entering class: the smallest number of applications were required to seat the largest class, with a yield of almost 60%, and this class also achieved the highest absolute number and percentage of under-represented minorities. He announced a successful Orientation followed by an impressive Community Service Day in the DC Public Schools, for which he thanked all participants. He reported many new faculty, especially in clinical departments; of special note is Dr. Jordan Cohen, recently retired President of the AAMC, who will be on the faculty of both the SPHHS (Health Policy) and the SMHS (Medicine). Lastly, he reported that a year-long self-study under the direction of Dr. Schroth will be completed in December 2007, in preparation for the LCME site visit in 2008.

D. Health Sciences Report: For Dean Johnson, Dr. Alexander reported that applications increased by 17%, from 1369 to 1600, and the total number of applicants who are coming is high, with a 79% yield. She reported 300 new graduate students, and 300 new undergraduate students. She stated that Dr. Johnson, Dr. Burke, and Mr. Bass, traveled to the UAE concerning a possible partnership for a new school of allied health there. Dr. Burke added that the project entails a ten-year commitment for a allied health programs including management. Lastly, Dr. Alexander reported that she, Dr. Scott, and Dr. Schroth, recently met with colleagues from area institutions concerning an initiative between all schools of medicine and nursing in the city to develop a common curriculum pertaining to community medicine and social justice issues. She added that the seven core faculty will spend a week in September attending a workshop sponsored by the AAMC that focuses on team effectiveness and collaboration as part of the curriculum initiative.

E. Research Report: Dr. Hirshfield reported that the Clinical and Translational Science Award [CTSA] Planning Grant submitted with Children’s achieved a score of 154 and will be funded, and a CTSA application will follow. She also noted a greater movement for working toward a DC-wide consortium in this area, adding that she will be in touch with faculty regarding collaborative opportunities.

Dr. Hirshfield congratulated Dr. Susan Ceryak for achieving an NIH Minority Supplement to her NCI grant, for support of an outstanding minority graduate student in her laboratory. She then called on Dr. Patierno, who reported that the Cancer Institute received and met a challenge grant from the Amgen Foundation for a men’s oncology program. He added that a new partnership between the Cancer Institute, the GW Hospital, and GW MFA, together with Channel 9, CTIS, Safeway, GW Sports, and others, will present a media campaign on prostate cancer awareness, including a screening program with the Department of Urology. He also explained that the Cancer Institute received an Institutional Research Grant from the American Cancer Society: the grant entails $120,000/year for three years, which will provide for the granting of up to four $30,000 pilot awards per year, awarded through internal competition.

Dr. Hirshfield reported that the Committee on Research, in a project headed by Dr. Kashanchi, solicited faculty needs for being more active in research and for improving the overall quality of proposals: the intent is to assemble multidisciplinary panels on topics such as AIDS and cancer, and to invite speakers from NIH and elsewhere to speak on how to be more competitive. She invited everyone to participate in this project.

Dr. Hirshfield welcomed Dr. Imtiaz Khan, Professor of Microbiology/Immunology/TM, whom she described as “a world class researcher.” She also reported a new animal ordering system and new head of the Office of Lab Safety. She called attention to the IRB web training program and strongly encouraged all to attend the University-wide Compliance Awareness Day September 20.

X. Brief Statements: Dr. Williams warmly thanked the faculty for achieving a “tremendous” year last year, adding that he is looking forward to a another such year, with the added excitement of the presidential search. He encouraged all present to attend the Faculty Assembly on Thursday, September 21, at 5:00 p.m., in Ross 101, to meet their new colleagues in both schools.

XI. The meeting adjourned at 5:50.

John F. Williams, M.D., Ed.D.
Chair of the Faculty Senate
for Ruth Katz, J.D., M.P.H., Secretary

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