UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS – March 2008

Daniel W. Rahn, MDPrintable 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.

 

THE BIG PICTURE – The magnitude of the challenge and the scope of the proposed expansion are daunting
and require simultaneous effort on multiple fronts. While the development of a four year medical school
campus through partnership between MCG and the University of Georgia in Athens has garnered much
attention, that effort is not the sole element of the expansion plan. MCG must strengthen the base in
Augusta to accommodate an increase in class size on the main campus and we must continue development
of clinical campuses in Albany and Savannah to support third and fourth year student clinical education.
This increase in medical student enrollment must be coupled with expansion of residency education in
parallel with the increased medical student enrollment. All components must work together if we are to
meet the need for an increased number of physicians in Georgia in the future. The plan requires significant
capital investment and operational funding—and, once we begin, we must be prepared to sustain that
investment. Unremitting commitment and broad collaboration are critical if we are to advance this
important body of work for the benefit of Georgians today and into the future.

 

KEY CHALLENGES – As the medical education expansion process continues, we must bear in mind that we
will ultimately have to demonstrate to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education that we have the
capacity to provide high quality education to the proposed increased number of medical students. The LCME
has 125 standards that must be met for accreditation of a school of medicine. Any expansion of MCG’s
medical education program, in Augusta and at sites across the state, must be conducted in close concert
with the LCME.

 

Governor Perdue’s budget for FY09 includes $7.2 million in new funding as requested by the Board of
Regents to support expansion of public medical education in Georgia through the University System of
Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia including the strategic partnership between MCG and UGA.
Passage of a budget that includes the full $7.2 million to support medical education expansion remains a
priority for this legislative session.

 

In Augusta, the primary focus at present is to continue efforts related to the acquisition of the Gilbert
Manor property and to realizing efficiencies through a consolidated, sequential approach to the
construction of new facilities to support expansion needs of the schools of medicine and dentistry.
In Athens, current efforts relate to the transition of the Navy Supply Corps School property and facilities to
UGA and the development of an initial facility to house the first class of medical students that will be
educated in Athens.

 

Elsewhere, MCG continues efforts to identify additional teaching sites to support the expanding clinical
education needs of our medical students—students on the MCG campus, students on the southeast and
southwest clinical campuses, and future students who be educated on the medical school campus in Athens
and in clinical settings in Athens and Gainesville.

 

The physician education expansion project is a complex initiative with many moving parts. In light of the
robust collaboration necessary to advance an initiative of this scope, appropriate agreements have to be
developed with partners across the state. Negotiation and signing of comprehensive affiliation agreements
with health system partners remains a priority as does the execution of a memorandum of understanding
between the University System of Georgia, MCG, and UGA. This MOU, which must meet the expectations of
the LCME, will be a critical step forward in clarifying responsibilities and accountabilities associated with the
development of a medical school campus in Athens.

 

BIWEEKLY REPORTING – In response to a directive from Chancellor Davis, MCG has produced biweekly
reports to the Board of Regents, the fourth having been completed this past Friday, March 14. As outlined in
my February presentation to the Board of Regents, these biweekly reports (monthly following the legislative
session) address significant activities in the following general categories: administrative issues, curriculum
development, admissions, facilities, regional campus development, financing, and legislative/community
relations. The reports also provide information about key upcoming events.

 

• Are these reports useful and informative as written?
• Would you recommend any changes in content/focus?

 

SUMMARY – The future of Georgia hinges on its ability to provide a healthy, well-educated population and
workforce. Although the number of physicians and other health professionals is only one of the components
needed to achieve these goals, the goals are not achievable without an adequate health workforce. MCG is
committed to working collaboratively with dedicated partners across the state and under your guidance to
advance the most practical and efficient approach for addressing the significant needs in our state for
expanded public medical education.