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Dear colleague,
As Chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
this year, I have to attend the meetings of the three Councils
that comprise that organization. Two weeks ago, I was at the
Council of Academic Societies where there was a lot of discussion
on how to better educate the next generation of physicians with
regard to their understanding of the importance of research
and the research process to caring for patients. This past week
the Council of Teaching Hospitals met in Atlanta and the main
topic of discussion was how to get the clinical mission of hospitals
better appreciated and supported by schools of medicine. Bruce
Schroffel, President and CEO of University of Colorado Hospital
was there and he and I had the chance to spend some time talking
together about the challenges we have here in supporting our
clinical missions in this very challenging health care environment.
We came away with some thoughts which we will be sharing with
our clinical chairs and faculty in the coming weeks.
VA Secretary Jim Nicholson will be in Denver this week to commemorate
the VA’s purchase of the first phase of land from the
FRA. This land, located at the far southeast section of the
Fitzsimons campus will be the site of the new VA hospital. The
VA is deep into planning and design for their hospital (now
scheduled for opening in 2012, I am told). The VA is also continuing
to negotiate with University Physicians, Inc. (UPI) for the
purchase of the UPI building located at E. Colfax and Wheeling
Street. Sale of the UPI building is contingent on finding a
suitable alternate site, probably on the FRA land north of Montview,
and negotiating a sale price that holds UPI harmless for the
expenses of developing and moving to a new property.
The US News and World Report rankings of graduate (including
medical) school programs came out last week. We did well again
as a School, although I always worry about the lack of rigor
in the process and what it all means, anyway. Nevertheless,
congratulations to those programs that did well, and congratulations
to those that weren’t mentioned also – we couldn’t
be a complete school without all of you.
In the local version of “who’s the best,”
5280 Magazine’s “Top Docs” voting begins today.
Ballots are posted online at www.5280.com, which means EVERY
licensed physician registered in the seven metro counties (Arapahoe,
Denver, Broomfield, Jefferson, Douglas, Boulder, and Adams counties)
will be able to vote for his or her favorite doctors. While
most of us underplay this stuff, feeling that it is a popularity
contest, the Denver public places a lot of weight on this issue
of the magazine and it does drive patients to our doctors when
they are listed.
Three weeks ago I mentioned graduation coming and that our
office would cover the cost of caps and gowns for the faculty
who come to graduation. I have again attached how to order the
regalia (the deadline is April 5th and 6th) but in case you
needed some reasons to attend, Larry Feinberg, MD, Professor
of Medicine, sent me his:
TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATION IN 2007
1. Enjoy the last graduation ceremony to be held at the quadrangle
between 8th and 9th Avenues
2. Feel nostalgic while marching to Elgar’s Pomp and
Circumstance
3. Actually see the Dean
4. Witness students you served and inspired receive their MD
degree
5. See faculty colleagues honored by the medical school
6. Recharge your identity and commitment as a medical school
faculty member
7. Wear traditional cap and gown and better appreciate your
daily outerwear
8. Hear the Norlin charge to the graduates, inspiring words
by the courageous CU president of the 1930’s
9. Add to the thrill of students and families by enlarging
the faculty procession
10. Change your routine for at least one Friday morning
I hope as many of you who can will attend this year.
I spent time with the Search Committee for Senior Associate
Dean for Education last week. The committee is looking primarily
internally for this part-time position (although they would
consider candidates from outside the institution in some circumstances).
The job announcement is attached.
The School of Medicine and University of Colorado Hospital
have partnered to provide funding for Clinical Effectiveness
and Patient Safety Grants. The Request for Letters of Intent
is attached.
And finally, I received a copy of the latest update to the
schedule for projects at the Anschutz Medical Campus, 9th and
Colorado campus, and downtown Denver campus. Revisions have
been highlighted in green. It will give you a chance to see
when your department or program is slated to move this summer
and into next spring.
Have a good week.
With warm regards,
Richard D. Krugman, MD
Dean
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