VCU School of Medicine Women in Medicine and Science

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January 2006

Minutes of the Wednesday, January 11, 2006 Meeting of the School of Medicine Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities

Attending: Dr. Zakia Bell, Dr. Margaret Biber, Dr. Delores Clements, Dr. Cathy Cooper, Ms. Maria Curran, Dr. Shoba Ghosh, Mrs.Carol Hampton, Mrs. Donna Jackson, Dr. Cathy Kelso, Dr. Wendy Klein, Dr. Susan Kornstein, Dr. Susan Lanni, Dr.Arti Pandya, Dr. Neal Roberts, Dr. Rita Shiang, Ms. Mireille Truong

Special Guest: Dr. Jerome Strauss, Dean of the School of Medicine

Co-Chair Dr.Wendy Klein called the meeting to order at 4:05pm

Meeting with Dr. Jerome Strauss, Dean of the School of Medicine
1. Communication
  According to the exit survey, it was reported that there was poor intradepartmental and intercampus communication. In response to this concern, raised by both the COSOWAM and other committees, Dr. Chlewbowski in support of the dean will be heading a committee to enhance intercampus communications and using the e-calendar. The dean has asked COSOWAM to designate a representative from the committee to work with Dr. Chlewbowski. The committee will be sending the name of the designated representative from COSOWAM by email to Drs. Strauss and Chlewbowski.
2. Transparency
  1. IRB: Dr. Strauss is working with Dr. Frank Macrina, VP for Research, to address issues concerning the IRB. He shared with the committee that, while he recognizes the concern regarding the payment of service for some IRB members and not others, there are more pressing issues that must be addressed in this area. He explained that there is significant review going on, particularly that of the structural issues with respect to clinical trials and the liability concerns of this matter. He assured the committee that he is aware of the issues presented by COSOWAM and that he will keep them in mind.
    There was brief discussion about inequity of payment to MDs and not PhDs and concerns about the possibility of taxing IRB submissions. These matters will be further discussed and addressed at a later time.
  2. Career advancement process: The dean explained that he supports openess of the promotion and tenure process. A small group led by Dr. Enrique Gerszten, chair, SOM P & T Committee, is currently collecting data on promotion and tenure to be distributed in writing to all faculty and department chairs.
3. Salary equity
  The dean informed the committee that he holds two 2 hour meetings per year with each department chair. These meetings include some associate deans, as well. These meetings allow the chairs to talk about the developments and accomplishments of their department including the department practice plan (for clinical departments.) Issues such as department budgets and planning, current and future challenges are addressed. Salary plan, salary equity, and compensation formula of each department are also discussed. There are still improvements to come. Dr. Strauss mentioned that there also are efforts to document and review of educational activity of the past 3 years such as teaching awards a
  The dean is also considering the possibility of a dean for faculty affairs, to address issues such as salary equity, promotion and tenure, mentorship, and faculty performance and evaluation plans.
4. Research infrastructure
  Dr. Strauss agrees with the committee that there is a need to create a stronger research infrastructure. He has presented these issues to Dr. Wenzel, President of MCV Physicians, and chair of a committee on translational research, and Dr. Archer, Associate Dean for Research, and that they are working on identifying and addressing the many problem areas.
  The dean explained that concerns with clinical research and need to improve faculty research assistance programs are being addressed, in part, with some support provided through the department of biostatistics and bioinformatics. A search for a department chair in biostatistics and bioinformatics will be initiated shortly. The plan calls for an increase in the number of faculty in this department. As a result of the governor’s proposal for 16 million dollar budget in favor for research, Dr. Archer and Dr. Strauss hope to be able to put in place a research infrastructure which includes 102 new faculty hires.
  
  In light of the lack of mechanism for grant review prior to submission, Dr. Gordon Archer has suggested instituting a requirement that all grants be reviewed prior to submission. It was mentioned that this is difficult to mandate and that there is a need to show value of doing this for researchers. The dean has committed extra dollars for bridge funding for faculty needing to resubmit grants for review.
  
  It was noted that there is a system overload when it comes to grant submissions and that it is important to make the grants submission process as easy and comfortable as possible. In order to address this, the dean is looking into updating the electronic system to facilitate electronic grant submission.
  
  The Committee thanked Dr. Strauss for meeting with us and appreciated his openness and candor.
Wrap up with committee members
The committee members commented that the meeting was very informative and that the dean was extremely receptive and addressed our concerns appropriately. The committee requested a follow up meeting with the dean in six months.
Wrap up with committee members
1. The committee mentioned that it would like to invite Dr. Gordon Archer to discuss concerns relating to research infrastructure, such as the administrative process of grant submission, representation of women on various committees, especially committees involving research issues. The next meeting will include a discussion of questions for Dr. Archer. Dr. Arti Pandya agreed to develop a list of questions to facilitate discussion.
2. Invited speakers
  Kay Davis, RNC, MN, Director of Nursing Professional Practice, and Maria Curren, VP for Human Resources, VCUHS. They will discuss VCUHS initiative to invest in staff for increased retention. The program has been very successful and has saved money for VCUHS.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.

Submitted by Mireille Truong, M ‘08
Reviewed by Dr. R. Shiang and C. Hampton

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