UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS – June 2008

Daniel W. Rahn, MDPrintable Version

 

The overarching intent of the University System 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:

 

ADMINISTRATION

1. On June 11, President Rahn presented two items to the Board of Regents – 1) a brief update on the
physician education expansion project and 2) an overview of the opportunities for MCG created by the
availability of the Gilbert Manor property in Augusta.

 

2. Also on June 11, Presidents Rahn and Adams and Drs. Doug Miller and Arnett Mace met in Atlanta at one
of their regularly scheduled leadership meetings to discuss progress of the expansion of medical
education programming to Athens. CFOs Bill Bowes and Tim Burgess also were in attendance to discuss
the FY10 budget (see Financial section below).

 

3. On June 19, the MCG‐UGA Campus Dean search committee conducted interviews in Greensboro,
Georgia. The committee has identified four candidates for second interviews, which will take place
during July and early August.

 

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

1. A basic science education retreat will be held on July 21 to discuss teaching strategies related to basic
science education. Several outside speakers will meet with MCG and UGA faculty to discuss optimal
strategies for the campuses in Augusta and Athens.

 

2. MCG and UGA faculty continue to work together on the development of the Essentials of Clinical
Medicine course.

 

ADMISSIONS

1. The School of Medicine admissions office continues to move forward with the implementation of process
and procedural changes that reflect current expansion efforts. Staff members continue to work with the
vendor and MCG departments to implement the electronic admissions process.

 

FACILITIES

1. On June 11, the Board of Regents authorized the execution of a rental agreement between the UGA Real
Estate Foundation and the Board of Regents for 36,000 square feet of space at 279 Williams Street in Athens, a facility that will serve as the initial temporary space for the medical school campus in Athens. The lease covers the period June 15, 2008, through June 30, 2009, with options to renew on a year‐toyear basis. An initial lease payment of $2.5 million is due on June 1, 2009, which is provided for in the FY09 budget. The renovation of this facility will commence during the course of the next year with occupancy expected by July 2009.

 

REGIONAL CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

1. Dr. Kathryn R. Martin, administrator of the Chatham County, Georgia, Health Department, has been named assistant dean of the Southeast Georgia Clinical Campus of the Medical of Georgia School of Medicine based at Savannah's St. Joseph's/Candler Health System. Dr. Martin will assume her responsibilities on July 1.

 

2. On June 23, the leadership of the MCG School of Medicine and the Phoebe Putney Medical Center in Albany met to discuss clinical campus development, with a specific focus on budgets, facilities, and graduate medical education.

 

FINANCIAL

1. At the June 11 leadership meeting referenced in the Administration section, MCG and UGA agreed upon
a general strategy for the FY10 budget.

2. The consulting firm Tripp Umbach has been charged to create a five‐year funding plan for the expansion of the MCG School of Medicine. Recommendations will be incorporated into the budget request that will be submitted to the Board of Regents in July.

 

LEGISLATIVE/COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. MCG representatives continue to engage in ongoing communication about this initiative with legislators and other state leaders as they visit the MCG campus.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

As noted in the first update, ongoing expansion efforts are guided by a comprehensive operational plan that outlines short‐ and long‐term critical tasks and target dates.

 

Key Near-term Events

1. On July 22, UGA will host a meeting of the MCG/UGA planning team to discuss overall progress and next steps.

 

2. MCG legal staff have provided a draft MCG/UGA memorandum of understanding to UGA representatives and the Board of Regents for comment. The goal remains the same – to have the MOU ready for presentation at the August meeting of the Board of Regents.

 

3. Also at the August BOR meeting, MCG will present the Gilbert Manor property land acquisition proposal for the Board’s approval.

 

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