Expansion Project Update – February 29, 2008

 

Printable Version

The overarching intent of the Medical College of Georgia’s Physician Education Expansion Project is to contribute to a healthier Georgia by assuring that Georgians have access to high quality health care—the right care provided by the right provider in the right location at the right time. Activities of note over the latest reporting period include the following:

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

1. On February 22, President Rahn, President Adams, Dean Miller and Provost Mace met in Washington, Georgia, to discuss overarching administrative issues and best strategies for ensuring optimum collaboration as planning for the four year campus in Athens continues.

2. On February 25, the research vice presidents from the Medical College of Georgia and the University of Georgia led a meeting of scientists on areas of existing and future research collaboration. NIH funding profiles were exchanged in advance of these discussions.

3. MCG and UGA jointly finalized the position specification for a “Campus Dean” to administer the campus being developed in Athens. The Dean of the MCG School of Medicine and the UGA Provost are serving as chair and co‐chair of the search committee. The first committee meeting with Korn Ferry International, the search firm engaged for this recruitment, to examine the process, time line, and potential candidate pool will occur in March.

4. MCG and UGA jointly developed and approved a position description for the Athens campus chair of the Department of Basic Science Education. The MCG search committee chair has been identified; the identification of a UGA co‐chair is in process.

5. Dean Miller wrote the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to officially inform the accrediting body of MCG’s intent, per the Board of Regents resolution, to expand its medical education program by developing a campus in partnership with UGA. The letter requested LCME guidance on appropriate next steps and the timeline for accreditation of this expansion. A joint MCG/UGA meeting with the LCME was requested.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

1. MCG has begun development of the Athens campus curriculum in tandem with the evolution of the MCG curriculum. Dr. Leslie Petch is a UGA member of the MCG School of Medicine Curriculum Oversight Committee. Drs. Petch, Mark Ebell, Andy Albritton, and Rhee Fincher met in Augusta to discuss Phase I curriculum issues.

2. MCG continues to develop clinical clerkship sites to meet current and expanding needs of medical student education.

 

3. Curriculum evolution at the Augusta campus and development at the Athens campus will be guided by recent feedback from the LCME following the January 2008 site visit, the likelihood of a change from the current examination licensure process, and ongoing curriculum evolution at the Augusta campus.

ADMISSIONS

1. As reported in the last update, a subcommittee of the MCG School of Medicine Admissions Committee has been formed to assess current procedures and to explore changes that might be required due to the expansion to Athens and clinical campuses in other regions of the state. The committee has met twice and continues to examine Benchmarking studies. The subcommittee expects to make recommendations to the Dean of the School of Medicine and to the Admissions Committee in April.

2. Dr. Alan Langford (UGA) has been tasked to serve as faculty liaison to the School of Medicine’s Admissions Committee.

 

3. The School of Medicine is exploring an electronic admissions management platform that will be needed
to facilitate an expanded multi‐campus admissions process.

FACILITIES

1. Preliminary findings from the continuing peer review and validation study of the Medical Education and Commons program document have identified potential space, operational, and cost efficiencies that could be achieved by consolidating this project with the approved new facility for the School of Dentistry. The Vice President for Administration met with the Board of Regents facilities staff on February 28 to discuss the initial findings.

2. As previously reported, an initial facility in Athens has been purchased; UGA and MCG are working in tandem to finalize the plans for renovation of that facility.

REGIONAL CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

1. Interviews continue for the assistant dean of MCG’s Southeast Georgia Clinical Campus based in Savannah, as do faculty recruitment efforts for the clinical campus. Two candidates have been interviewed for the Assistant Dean position of the campus in Savannah. The remaining two candidates will be interviewed over the next two weeks.

FINANCIAL

1. No major updates on the financial front. Passage of a state budget that includes the full $7.2 million to support medical education expansion remains a priority for this legislative session.

 

LEGISLATIVE/COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. On February 21, President Rahn testified before the House Committee on Health and Human Services, providing a general update on the expansion planning process.

 

2. On Sunday, February 24, the Augusta Chronicle included a guest editorial from the President and CEO of the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce that supported the University System of Georgia Board of Regents resolution to expand public medical education through the Medical College of Georgia.

 

3. On February 27, Paul Umbach, CEO of TrippUmbach, testified at the House and Senate Appropriations Higher Education subcommittees. President Rahn and Dr. Steve Wrigley (representing UGA) were in attendance, as well, and responded to questions from subcommittee members.

 

KEY UPCOMING EVENTS

As noted in the first update, MCG’s ongoing expansion efforts are guided by a comprehensive operational plan that outlines short‐ and long‐term critical tasks and target dates. The first report outlined major pushes over the coming months and specific expected outcomes over the next 90 days. As a refresher, MCG’s key expected outcomes for three months (February 1 to April 30) include:

 

1. Identify additional community‐based sites and voluntary faculty

2. Search committee selection of two finalists for southeast clinical campus assistant dean

3. Finalize plans for the initial facility in Athens in partnership with UGA

4. Finalize Athens campus governance and faculty model in partnership with UGA

5. Reach agreement amongst key stakeholders on first expanded class start date

Submitted by:
Daniel W. Rahn, MD
President, Medical College of Georgia
and Senior Vice Chancellor for Health and Medical Programs, University System of Georgia