LSUH-NO-SOM Faculty Assembly
Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2016
Opening: L. Engel called the regular meeting of the LSUH-NO-SOM Faculty Assembly
to order at 4:07 PM in Room 7 on the 6th floor of the Lions Building.
Present: Ali, M; Boulmay, B; Campeau, L; Crabtree, J; Engel, L; Farris, H;
Greiffenstein, P; Harrison-Bernard, L; Hebert, C; Holman, S; Hunt, J; Kamboj, S;
Kapusta, D; Lee, O; Lentz, J; Levitzky, M; McGoey, R; Mussell, J; Neumann, D; Oge, L;
Sherman, W; Spieler, B; Taylor, C; Welsh, D; Winsauer, P
Absent: De Silva, T; Delacroix, S; Hetzler, L; Polite, F; Spieler, B
Proxies: Hebert, C. for Guillory, S.; Levitzky, M. for Happel, K.; Neumann, D for
Lazartigues
1. Approval of the minutes from December meeting: L. Engel moved to approve
the minutes for December and was seconded by L. Harrison-Bernard. Motion was
approved unanimously.
2. Reports:
 FA Executive Committee (Engel)
o Letter to Chancellor regarding faculty raises was discussed. Collecting
data to quantitate cost to retain vs recruit new faculty.
o Updates on the Department and Section Head Searches was discussed.
 Watts – Peds, started.
 Zura – Ortho, started.
 Multiple applicants for OB/Gyn and Derm have been received.
 David Martins (ID) retired.
o Changes and progress at UMC were discussed.
 2 Service Line Directors in place (Smart, Nuss). Searching for
admin support personnel for both directors.
 Next Service Line Directors – Behavioral and Neuroscience.
LSUHSC has candidates in for both
 Rebekah Gee announced as new Head of DHH
 Operational issues getting better, although some supply and
staffing issues remain.
o Curriculum changes were discussed. Concerns were addressed by
DiCarlo.
o Faculty Assembly Awards were discussed. Committee formed, call for
nominations to go out in January.
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o Faculty Assembly Charity Fundraising was discussed.
 Dean recommended talking with J. Moerschbaecher about
restrictions; and also recommended donating time instead of
money.
 Winsauer spoke to Moerschbaecher and he suggested we
establish and maintain an account with the LSUHSC Foundation to
make charitable donations on behalf of the LSUHSC SOM Faculty.
o Invitation to the Governor has been extended. Dean supports invitation
from Sherman/FA Assembly, requests to arrange scheduling.
o Deal for electronic bill boards passed by Board of Supervisors.
o Improving faculty morale
 Dean suggested using the walkway electronic boards to highlight
faculty as a way to improve morale. Recommended to talk with J.
Moerschbaecher.
 Winsauer talked with Moerschbaecher and he expressed concern
about equitable representation of faculty highlights across schools.
Additionally, his office does not have the staff or resources for such
activities, and recommends that the individual schools determine
how best to advertise its activities and accomplishments to improve
morale.
o UMC Research Day conference call 1/6 for more details.
SOM Administrative Council (Crabtree)
o Meeting cancelled
Faculty Senate (Sanjay)
o Meeting next week
3. Old Business
 Letter to the Chancellor concerning Faculty raises is in progress.
 No new suggestions on the FA webpage Suggestion Box. (Lentz)
 Associate Dean of Student Affairs position
o Last interviews this week, thinking about hiring a larger team and
expanding the office. (Farris)
 FA Awards Committee (Crabtree) – committee convened, deadline 1/29, letter to
solicit nominations will go out this week. Please nominate. Winners to be
announced at spring faculty meeting or at a Dean’s reception to be determined.
 FA Charity Fundraising Committee will reconvene when T. De Silva returns.
4. New Business
 Invited Guest – Dr. DiCarlo
o Curriculum renewal was discussed. Dr. DiCarlo expressed that it appears
that a lot of the work being done in committee meetings has not been
communicated effectively back to the faculty in the departments that were
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represented at those meetings. He is happy to return to future FA
meetings to discuss details.
 Funding – DiCarlo reiterated support from Dean that Dept’s will not
be cut and allocation to some Dept’s will increase. After an analysis
of the impact of mission based curriculum (English/DiCarlo), a
model was adopted to assigning dollars for services (directorships,
teaching, committee service) etc.
 Planning – Chairs understand the model and directors have been
identified. Announcements are in process. Basic Science Directors
will be announced first; Clinical still working on details on the impact
on new curriculum will have on clinical work load. Next planning
work is by content directors.
 Foundations is the first block, and being taught by basic scientists.
Course starts in July. Preliminary plans/schedules have been
developed.
 Next block is Hematology (late August – early Sept), taught by
Path. Preliminary plans/schedules have been developed.
 Neuro-Psych (Sept – Oct), then Musculoskeletal (Oct – early Nov)
are next. Preliminary plans/schedules have been developed.
 Planning for Cardiovascular (Nov-Dec), followed by spring courses
will begin next.
 Goal is to give 6 month lead time for planning. Expect end of
January/early February pushed to course directors to finish
developing courses.
 Rolling roll out.
 MIP is most challenging to integrate (virology), very different style,
meeting with Foster tomorrow to work out details of integrated
implementation.
 Where are we with what test taking tools will be used? (Farris) For
shelf exams, testing of customized exams went well. Customized
allows you to put the test together w/ a gauge of difficulty, can
submit up to 3 days before exam to get it.
 Will each unit develop objectives? (Levitzky). Yes
 Coordinator position was approved to work with all second year
courses (update moodle, interface, etc).

Edwin Murray, JD, former Louisiana Senator, was named as new Vice
Chancellor for Community and Multicultural Affairs.
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Conflict of interest with new Head of DHH, who is an employee of LSUHSC, was
discussed.
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2 purse snatchings were reported from 2 new students. In response, 15
additional security personnel (7 now, 7 soon) were hired. Efforts are being made
to offer competitive employment terms to reduce turn-around.
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Mid-year budget cuts (over $700M deficit) were discussed. Possibility of
furloughs on some campuses.
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Concerns about the ability to give merit raises and retaining laboratory personnel
was discussed.
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Heart health month (L. Harrison-Bernard). AWIS hosting February Heart Health
Month, were red day, put your name in a drawing for a free fit bit, will be a walk
with participation from the Wellness Center for warm-up/cool down and students
taking blood pressure. 2/26 seminar on heart health. Please participate.
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L. Oge (Laf) – said they are having the same issues with promotions/raises.
5. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 5:19 PM.
Minutes submitted by: Jennifer Lentz
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