January 10, 2006 Minutes

MINUTES
University of Minnesota
Academic Health Center
Deans Council
January 10, 2006

The regular meeting of the Deans of the Academic Health Center was held on Tuesday, January 10 at 2:00 p.m. in 475 ChRC.

Members present:
Frank Cerra, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences
Connie Delaney, Dean, School of Nursing
John Finnegan, Dean, School of Public Health
Jeffrey Klausner, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
Patrick Lloyd, Dean, School of Dentistry
Deborah Powell, Dean, Medical School
Marilyn Speedie, Dean, College of Pharmacy
Linda Watson, Director, Health Sciences Libraries

Staff present:
Terry Bock, Chief of Staff
Barbara Brandt, Assistant Vice President for Education
Jennifer Cieslak, Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences
Mary Koppel, Director, AHC Communications
Beth Nunnally, Chief Financial Officer
Mark Paller, Assistant Vice President for Research

Guests present:
Jasjit Ahluwalia, Executive Director, Office of Clinical Research, AHC
Bobbi Daniels, Chief Medical Officer, University of Minnesota Physicians
Becky Moen, Executive Program Director, Office of Clinical Research, AHC
Richard Pfutzenreuter, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Review and Approval of Minutes – December 13, 2005

Frank Cerra asked the council to approve the minutes of December 13, 2005.  Their approval, with minor changes, was passed.  Frank Cerra stated that, in the future, the minutes would be sent to the Deans Council ahead of the meeting.  The minutes will also be available on the AHC website.

The Institute for Interprofessional Health Informatics

Frank Cerra discussed health informatics within the Academic Health Center.  He felt that creating an institute for interprofessional health informatics would help move this important area forward within the AHC.  The creation of an institute would sustain the partnership with Mayo and increase the chance of obtaining the NLM grant.  The Institute for Interprofessional Health Informatics would work closely with the Health Informatics Program within the Medical School, but they will remain separate entities.  In addition to the NLM grant, obtaining the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) is a major initiative for the AHC.  Health informatics plays a significant role in this initiative. Discussing a diagram on the interrelatedness of the areas, Connie Delaney outlined what she felt were the distinctive features and overlap of health informatics with the CTSA.  There was discussion about the diagram, and Deborah Powell stated that she felt the overlap was much broader than presented in the diagram, and will need to be recognized in the planning for the institute and the CSTA grant.  Frank Cerra summarized the Council’s decision as follows:  the NLM grant and Institute for Interprofessional Health Informatics will move forward; the Health Informatics Program within the Medical School will remain as is; the AHC will move health informatics forward as a science; the Knowledge Management Taskforce is working on the distinctions of moving this discipline forward as a science; there will be strong support and commitment from the AHC for the CTSA grant; and financial support for the institute will be decided in the compact process as part of individual school requests.

Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) Grant

Jas Ahluwahlia stated that the purpose of the initiative is to assist institutions to forge a uniquely transformative, novel and integrative academic home for clinical and translational science that has consolidated resources.  He stated that the AHC has many strengths within the 6 health schools, however, the main problem will be that they are not consolidated.  Jas expects that obtaining the CTSA grant award would provide an integrated environment for clinical and translational research that would allow for an academic home for clinical research, and support for compliance, data management, human subject recruitment and safety, and translational services.  Jas told the Deans that the NIH will be looking for a tremendous amount of institutional support, along with community engagement, in the application.  Deborah Powell suggested the Institute for clinical sciences have its own P&T committee which would parallel the school’s P&T committee.  Frank Cerra stated that the Institute would need a 7.12 statement and he would have to discuss the matter with Provost Tom Sullivan.  Jas asked the deans to send him ideas and comments, especially on how to integrate the research deans into the planning, how the university can distinguish itself from other universities, and ways to prove that the university is serious about its commitment to enhancing clinical and translational research.  This agenda item will be brought back to Deans Council in February 2006.

Biomedical Facilities Authority

Richard Pfutzenreuter (Fitz) discussed the proposal to create, in a state statute, the Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority.  The purpose of the Facilities Authority would be to assist in the construction or renovation of capital facilities supporting biomedical sciences research.  The authority would be authorized to issue up to $330,000,000 in state general obligation debt.  Senator Pogemiller and Representative Abrams have agreed to author the bill at the legislature.  Frank Cerra stated that the Deans need to become educated about this initiative, and may be asked about it while visiting legislators.  Mary Koppel will be sending background and summary information to the deans for their use.

Clinical Sciences Enterprise Task Force Update

Deborah Powell distributed the draft definition of “clinical sciences” as developed by the Clinical Sciences Enterprise Task Force.  The task force worked on wording of the definition so that it was understandable to a broader audience of non-academic and/or non-health professionals. Marilyn Speedie commented that while the organizational chart showed the patient as the focal point, the written definition does not mention patients and is “disease” focused. We should treat “patients” not “diseases.  Deborah Powell asked the deans to take the draft definition to their leadership faculty and provide input back to the task force.

The University’s new budget model will be discussed at the next Deans Council meeting.  The school’s business managers will be included in the discussion.

The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathryn P. Anderson
Staff to the Academic Health Center Deans Council