FACULTY SENATE
September 5, 2007
I. Dr. Williams opened the meeting at 5:05 p.m. Present: Vice President Williams; Drs. Abrams, Barbour, Barnett, Brem, Chiappinelli, Chiaramello, Cleary, Cohen, Collins, DePalma, Geist, Golder, Goldstein, Guidotti, Hoffman, Hu, Jain, Knoll, Lipson, Maring, Mr. McGraw, Drs. Mendelowitz, Phillips, Pintz, Trinidad, Turley, Verme, Dr. Verderese (Resident); Dr. Scott, Dean Katz, Parliamentarian Teitelbaum. Absent: Drs. Aly, Ayas, Bianco, Brody, Mr. Cawley, Drs. Corriveau, D’Angelo, Gaba, Guritzky, Haider, Holmes, Latham, Lee, Little, Lucas, Markle, Markus, McCaffrey, Miller, Noben-Trauth, Noonan, Orenstein, Ottolini, Patel, Pearl, Petinaux, Roberti, Rosenberg, Sadeghi, Siegel, Venbrux, Vyas, Walia; Dr. Hirshfield; Ms. Collura (SMHS student), Mr. Sinclair (SPHHS student).
Dr. Williams welcomed the faculty to the new academic year. He reminded Senators to sign the attendance sheet, and noted that off-campus faculty may obtain parking validation up front.
II. The minutes of the meeting of May 2, 2007, were approved as distributed.
III. Executive Committee Report: Dr. Goldstein reported that the Executive Committee held four meetings between May and August devoted mostly to academic issues, several of which are on today’s agenda. He noted a subcommittee under Dr. Hirshfield on part-time clinical faculty, and announced the fall Faculty Assembly on Monday, September 24, at 5:00 p.m., in Ross 101.
IV. Action Items
A. Advice and Consent to Appointment of Joel Teitelbaum, J.D., L.L.M. (Health Policy) as Parliamentarian for 2007-08: Dr. Williams explained that he seeks the Senate’s advice and consent for the appointment of Professor Teitelbaum as Parliamentarian for 2007-08. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to provide the Senate’s advice and consent.
B. Approval of Granting of Degrees: Lists of candidates for degrees for summer graduation in the School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS), and for Health Sciences Programs in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), were provided at the meeting. Dean Katz asked the Senate’s approval of candidates for the degrees of Bachelor of Public Health, Bachelor of Exercise Science, Master of Science in Exercise Science, Master of Science in Public Health Microbiology and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Master of Health Services Administration, Master of Public Health, and Doctor of Public Health, explaining that all candidates have finished or will have finished all course work required for their degrees. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the degrees for the candidates listed. Dean Johnson asked the Senate’s corresponding approval for applicants for the degrees of Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, and Master of Science in Nursing. Approval for this group of candidates was moved, seconded, and passed.
C. Elect Standing Committees for 2007-08: Dr. Goldstein presented a list of Executive Committee nominees to standing committees for 2007-08, which had been distributed with the agenda. There were no nominations from the floor. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the lists as provided.
4. Proposal from the Department of Anatomy to Change Its Name from the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology to the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology: An explanation of the reasons for proposing the change was provided with the agenda. Dr. Scott explained that it is designed to reflect where the major research focus is and will be under new chair Dr. Hawley, adding that it has the unanimous approval of the department. Dr. Hawley stated that he is looking forward to building the department with a major focus on stem cell biology and regenerative biology. A motion was made, seconded, and passed, to approve the proposed name change.
VI. Search Reports
A. Dermatology: For Dr. Simon, Dr. Scott explained that the search continues with two candidates. He added that if results are not achieved this fall, he may suggest reorganization to the Senate. He and Dr. Williams stressed the many dermatology chair positions vacant nationwide.
B. Pathology: For Dr. Shesser, Dr. Scott reported that three candidates have completed first-round interviews and have been asked to submit business plans, after which they will be invited back for second-round visits.
C. Expedited Search in Anatomy: Dr. Scott offered his and the Senate’s thanks and commendation to Dr. Walsh for his sixteen years of leadership of the department. He stated that after an external review, and with approval by the department, the Expedited Search Committee recommended Dr. Robert Hawley as Chair. He asked the Senate’s approval. Approval was moved, seconded, and passed.
D. Expedited Search in Ophthalmology: Dr. Scott explained that after a similar process of departmental review and departmental approval, the Expedited Search Committee recommended Dr. Geist as permanent Chair, for which he requested the Senate’s approval. A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed.
E. Exercise Science: Reporting for Dr. Battle, Ms. Rogers explained that the search is still open because the front-running candidate, after completing the process, then declined for family reasons. She added that a new candidate is coming next week and will give a presentation.
VII. Departmental Reviews
A. Biochemistry: Dr. Scott reported that Biochemistry completed its external review three weeks ago, and he has just received the report, which he will share after making some clarifications and discussing it with the department.
B. Surgery: Dr. Scott reported that Surgery has also completed its external review, but he has not yet received the report.
C. Neurology: Dr. Scott stated that the Neurology review will start later this fall, and probably one other department will also be reviewed this year.
D. Prevention and Community Health: Dean Katz reported that the department is finishing its internal review and will hold an external review after the accreditation site visit has taken place.
VIII. Information Items
A. Faculty Survey: In May, the Senate had requested technical revisions to a Faculty Survey which Dr. Lipson had presented for the Committee on Faculty Support. Dr. Lipson explained that revised copies of the survey were provided at the front of the room. He also highlighted a typographical error, which will be corrected.
B. Moving Psychopathology from Fall Semester of Second Year to Spring Semester of First Year: Dr. Geist, Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Medical Curricula (CUMC), explained that students, faculty, and CUMC working groups, all recommended this change to lighten the load in the second year, and the CUMC approved it. He thanked the Psychopathology faculty for teaching the course in both semesters during this transitional year.
IX. Report on University Senate Activity: Dr. Biles reported that the Senate did not meet over the summer, but the Executive Committee did, including meetings with Dr. Knapp. He stated that three issues are anticipated in the current year: (1) curriculum reform; (2) University budget; and (3) efforts to increase endowment.
X. Administrative Announcements
A. Provost and Vice President’s Report: Dr. Williams reported that the University endowment is now $1.2 billion, and a charge for President Knapp is to expand it to $2B to be more competitive with peer institutions, which are at $2-3B. He reported that all proposals for Square 54 (Old Hospital Site), were approved unanimously by the Zoning Commission, and expressed hope of written authorizations within the next month or two, to be followed by zoning permits. He assured Dr. Wasserman that he has conveyed the Senate’s parking concerns to the Boston group, and that they understand their importance.
Dr. Williams reported that Dr. Knapp’s inauguration is November 16, preceded by three days of activities: Tuesday, 11/13, “GW in and of Washington, DC”; Wednesday, 11/14, Research Day; Thursday, 11/15, “GW: Lifelong and Worldwide Community”; Friday, 11/16, academic procession at 10:30, followed by the installation at the Smith Center. He anticipated that several hundred medical alumni will attend, and many presidents and provosts of other universities.
Dr. Williams reported that Payette Associates of Boston is reviewing how to consolidate areas of the Medical Center; they are considering replacing the Himmelfarb library with a seven-story building for the SPHHS; also under review are an Educational Resource Center and a Cancer Center. He encouraged everyone to attend town hall meetings on these projects.
Dr. Williams expressed enthusiasm over international activities involving both schools. He stated that as a result of the Saudi Arabia mission, $8M was received from the Saad Group for GW to continue its humanitarian missions around the world, especially in Africa. He described a project in Eritrea to slow the brain drain from that country and replenish their supply of physicians by establishing residency programs and improving infrastructure, noting that business and private foundations are assisting in these efforts. He described a parallel effort in Rwanda, and congratulated our students who, working with students of other schools, have supplied 400 boxes of books to Eritrea and 200 boxes to Rwanda. He also reported initial discussions in Malaysia on a proposed hospital complex.
B. SMHS: Dr. Scott reported a very successful admissions process for all Health Sciences programs, giving special credit to the new nursing programs. He announced that the medical school received over 13,000 applications, more than any other medical school, and has already received over 9,000 applications for 2008. He reported that Community Service Day has become a major event, with 500 people attending. He announced Alumni Weekend September 28-29, and the LCME accreditation site visit February 11-12.
Dr. Scott introduced distinguished new faculty member Dr. Jordan Cohen, Professor of Medicine, President Emeritus of the Association of American Medical Colleges, noting that he has been and will be very active in Medical Center activities.
C. Health Sciences: Dean Johnson announced the Health Sciences Convocation September 27 in Ross 101, and reviewed upcoming accreditation visits for several departments.
D. SPHHS: Dean Katz reported a busy summer, especially in preparing the accreditation report, now delivered, for a site visit October 1, 2, and 3. She stated that classes started yesterday, and last week’s Orientation was attended by 240 students and included a case study by Councilmember David Catania. She added that Dr. Knapp attended and met with her and Mr. Catania afterwards.
In other areas, Dean Katz reported the start of a second year of Public Health Grand Rounds sponsored by Pfizer; speaker for the first session is Dr. Julie Gerberding of the CDC. She stated that the SPHHS had a very successful year in research. She reviewed a new partnership with the American Public Health Laboratories Association, under which groups will come over from other countries, including Africa, for training. She reported that the HIV-AIDS Institute, under Drs. Greenberg and Simon, is doing extraordinarily good work and will be taped tomorrow for a broadcast on NBC. She stated that work with the DC Department of Health continues to grow, and expressed excitement over the proposal for a new building. She stated that Dr. Knapp has met with both Deans and is very committed to both schools.
E. Research: Dr. Hu reported for Dr. Hirshfield. She congratulated several faculty on new awards or other achievements: Dr. Hawdon, new RO1; Dr. Chiaramello, competitive renewal of RO1; Dr. Windsor, new RO1; Dr. McCaffrey, NIH supplement to MERIT award; Mr. Michael Taylor, RWJ award; Dr. Mendelowitz, appointed to NIH study section on hypertension and microcirculation; and Dr. Berg, new DOD Concept Award.
Dr. Hu explained that Dr. Hirshfield is currently at a committee meeting for the “CTSA,” the Clinical Translational and Science Award, a new initiative by NIH to bring together institutions to make a more effective transition from bench to bedside. She stated that participants include GW, Children’s, Georgetown, Howard, University of Maryland, the Washington VA, and MedStar; to bring together the people of these seven institutions, web seminars, or “Webinars,” have been set up, on which email notices are being sent to all MC faculty.
In other areas, Dr. Hu reported that the research seminars under Dr. Kashanchi will continue this year with a new focus on developing grantsmanship skills. She stated that the Research Office is exploring opportunities for closer collaborations with the DC VA, with a probable focus on a longitudinal study of Women’s Health and Aging. She announced Research Day on November 14 as part of the Inauguration events, distinguishing it from the regular Research Day, which has been changed to Wednesday, March 12, from an earlier date.
XI. Brief Statements: None.
XII. The meeting adjourned at 5:50.
Jim Scott, M.D.
Secretary
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