No. 364, January 2004
Editor:
Gregory Vercellotti, M.D., verce001@umn.edu
Editorial
Assistant: Allison Campbell, aac@umn.edu
LCME:
Looking back and looking ahead
Our medical school passed an important milestone in the LCME accreditation process last month, when we submitted packets of information to the site visit team. The packets help prepare the team members for their University of Minnesota visit, which begins March 28, 2004. The packets include detailed databases, organization charts, and an executive summary of the self-study; they represent a tremendous amount of work by faculty and staff over the past year. Dean Deborah Powell, M.D., and I, Gregory Vercellotti, M.D., would like to say thank you to everyone who contributed to this tremendous effort, especially the three self-study chairs Jim Boulger, Ph.D., Glenn Giesler, Ph.D., and Charles Schulz, M.D. In addition, Linda Reilly and staff organized, finalized, and compiled the packets. In addition, essential work was done by students who carried out surveys on both campuses: Theodore Ruzanic, Alen Sabati, Paul Tonkin, and Chloe Zera. Along with faculty members who provided comments and suggestions, faculty contributors included those who headed subcommittees: William Jacott, M.D., James Pacala, M.D., Thomas Mackenzie, M.D., Anne Taylor, M.D., Jonathan Ravdin, M.D., and, from Duluth, Richard Eisenberg, Ph.D., Ruth Westra, D.O., Arlen Severson, Ph.D., Donna Forbes, Ph.D., Lester Drewes, Ph.D., and Gary Davis, Ph.D. Watch for further information about the upcoming visit in the weeks ahead.
At the same time as the LCME site
visitors are here, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
will visit the Medical School. In preparation, the GME office has been
developing an Institutional Review Document (IRD) to submit to the ACGME site
visitors. A draft of the IRD was reviewed at a retreat on Dec. 19. It will be
revised this month, then reviewed by the Clinical Sciences Council. Final
reviews by members of the Medical School administration will take place at the
end of January. After final revisions, the document will be submitted to the
ACGME in mid-February. Thanks are in order for everyone who has contributed to
or reviewed this important document, as well as to the dedicated staff of the
Graduate Medical Education office.
Physician
Well-Being Initiative
In fall 2003, Dean Powell
appointed a task force to examine concerns related to physician, medical
student, and resident stress, with the goal of initiating a program that will
address health and well-being in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Senior
Associate Dean Vercellotti is leading this effort along with the director of
the Center for Spirituality and Healing, Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., R.N., and
Medical School faculty members Karen Lawson, M.D., and Kelli Bullard, M.D.
Recent presentations by outside speakers included Bud Baldwin, M.D., on the
impact of stress on learning, performance, and ultimately patient safety, and
Lee Lipsenthal, M.D., addressing the importance of developing improved self
awareness as well as stress management, communication, and relationship skills.
Next month, a report will be made to the dean with a set of recommendations for
a comprehensive program that would be implemented during 2004.
Director
of the Bio-Medical Library: Looking back and looking ahead
After serving as director of the
Bio-Medical Library since 1990, Ellen Nagle recently retired. On an interim
basis, the position is now filled by two people: Linda DeBeau-Melting, an
associate University librarian, serves as interim director and Eric Celeste, a
librarian specializing in information technology, serves as deputy interim
director. While the library is renowned for its collection, many in the Medical
School feel its physical appearance could be improved. Noting the need to
upgrade facilities, De-Beau-Melting says: "It appears it [the Bio-Medical
Library] is being bumped up on the University list." Celeste comments that
Medical School and other Academic Health Center faculty, staff, and students
are heavy users of electronic information. "We want to make sure they are
well-served by the resources provided by the Bio-Medical Library." A search for
a new full-time director of the Bio-Medical Library should begin early this
year.
Alumni surveyed
We are beginning a program of
long-term follow-up of graduates of our medical school. As a first step, a
survey was sent out to 234 members of the class of 1990. Replies were received
from 89 physicians, reports surveyor Robert McCollister, M.D., 70 percent of
whom were in practice in either Minnesota or Wisconsin. Virtually all
responders are practicing the specialty in which they took the PGY-1 year,
except for 18 originally in internal medicine, seven of whom moved to other
areas (dermatology, electrophysiology research, radiology, emergency medicine,
clinical research, neurology, and preventive medicine). Some 67 percent of
physicians reported that they are involved in teaching medical students or
residents or both.
Facilities
on the agenda
Among the issues that has risen to prominence as we prepare for the LCME site visit is the quality of our facilities. Leadership in the Medical School recognize the need for improved facilities and study and learning spaces for students. In fact, a portion of the University's bonding request to the Legislature includes funding for improving classrooms within the Medical School. We'll need everyone's help to ensure that the University's bonding request is fully funded, so that we can move forward with our capital improvements as quickly as possible. If you'd like to become better informed or become an advocate for the University, President Bruininks and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association host a reception and briefing on the legislative session Jan. 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St., Minneapolis. The program begins at 6:30 p.m.; register by Jan. 15 by e-mailing h-thil@umn.edu or visiting the Web site www.supporttheU.umn.edu.
Medical
School Performance Evaluation discussion continues
A lively exchange about the
Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE), also known as the Dean's Letter,
took place at the Dec. 16 meeting of the Education Council. An MSPE Task Force
proposal was considered and ways to serve both the needs of medical students
and of residency directors were discussed. James Pacala, M.D., chair of the
council, promised to sum up the discussion in a few points prior to the next
meeting of the Education Council.
Summer
opportunities ahead for first-year students
Our first-year class enjoys a
nine-week summer break from coursework, which allows them to explore aspects of
medicine such as rural rotations and research. More information on rural
rotations will be available soon. For a listing of available research
positions, see http://www.meded.umn.edu/resopps/index.htm.
(Faculty members also may post research positions at this site.) While some of
these research opportunities are unpaid, the Minnesota Medical Foundation has
support available for qualified students in qualified programs. See Research
Grants for Students on the Web site www.mmf.umn.edu.
Thank
you for sharing gifts
Our medical school has numerous faculty, staff, and students who give of themselves every day. Yet at the end of the year, they give a little more. In the spirit of the holiday season, Duluth faculty and staff collected small items to give to the local Churches United in Ministry Center (CHUM). Sue McLeod led the drive and staff assisted in filling up gift bags for 40 men, 20 women, and 12 children. The gifts bags were distributed to visitors of the CHUM's drop-in center on Christmas Day. The Duluth Department of Family Medicine also did their part in helping the less fortunate by ringing bells for the Salvation Army. In the Twin Cities, the Medical School Dean's Office adopted three families from the St. Anne's Place this holiday season. Staff members purchased gifts for the families and also collected donations for a grocery gift certificate for each family. A special thanks to all for participating---and to the individuals, centers, and departments who carried out their own acts of charity.
Seven
required and nine elective clinical rotations are available to medical students
through the Duluth Clinical Clerkship Program directed by Jeff Adams, M.D., in
the Department of Family Medicine. These clerkships are defined by objectives,
evaluations, and tests described in the Medical School's published course
descriptions. Local sites include St Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System and St
Luke's Hospitals and Clinics as well as other community physician offices.
Rural sites are located throughout the state. This year, medical students will
participate in approximately 185 rotations through this program. With one or
two students in a rotation per period, students benefit from a close learning
relationship with attending community physicians and residents in the Duluth
Family Practice Residency Program. Students attend weekly sessions at the
School of Medicine, gathering with clinical faculty to present cases and
participate in workshops that address student knowledge specific to rotations
or competencies essential for graduation.