December 21, 2004

Dec. 21, 2004

Dear Colleagues,

We in the health professions are prepared to lead change. We go into our labs seeking a better, and different, way to treat and cure disease.  And we seek to make patients better - which often requires change. Recently, we in the Academic Health Center and at the University of Minnesota have been dealing with a different sort of change as we continue to face the impact of significant state cuts to the University. This will require significant change for all of us. 

In an effort to proactively position the University for the future, Provost Thomas Sullivan has been leading a strategic positioning process. The process offers criteria for the choices and changes we must face in the future. If you haven't already read these documents, I suggest you do (see http://www1.umn.edu/systemwide/strategic_positioning). One of the key criteria proposed in this strategic process is making decisions that support those areas that are central or core to mission.

As a part of this process, programs across the University and in the AHC are under scrutiny. We want to assure that Minnesota's health needs are addressed, however, given fiscal realities, we cannot do it all and we cannot do it alone.

In the AHC schools and colleges, the Medical School is among the first to make public the impact of such re-examination, with reviews of allied health programs such as occupational therapy. This week, we met with our partners in health care systems, other higher education institutions, and representatives of professional associations to explore new models of education to meet these important workforce needs. This effort involves change and will require much help from the community.  I'll keep you posted as our work group continues its discussions.

This is a time when our leadership brings us to the edge, which is not always a comfortable place to be. With the help of our faculty, staff, and students, with our partners, and with the support of the state, we can continue to lead change in the new environment we face.

Sincerely,

Frank B. Cerra
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences