Miller School of Medicine Faculty Council
Speaker’s Meeting
April 14th, 2015
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center- 1301 Conference Room
Members Present:
Benatar, Michael, M.D.
Contreras, Gabriel, M.D.
Deutscher, Murray, Ph.D.
Galoian, Karina, Ph.D.
Gervais, Marie- Denise, M.D.
Gomez, Carmen, M.D.
Gomez- Marin, Orlando, Ph.D.
Jimenez, Joaquin, M.D.
Kumar, Mahendra, Ph.D.
Kupin, Warren, M.D.
Lopez, Diana, Ph.D.
Muller, Kenneth, Ph.D.
Nares, Michael, M.D.
Panos, Anthony, M.D.
Pretto Jr, Ernesto, M.D.
Salas, Pedro, M.D., Ph.D.
Salman, Loay, M.D.
Smith, Byron, DPT
Studenski, Matthew, Ph.D.
Van Schail, JoAnne, MLS
Others Present:
Dowling, Monica, Ph.D.- Chair, Executive
Promotions Committee
McNulty, Meaghan, M.D.- Chair- Executive
Faculty Curriculum Steering Committee
Nimer, Stephen, M.D.- Director, SCCC
Perez, Roxane- Secretary
Rao, J. Sunil, Ph.D.- Director, Biostatistics
Meeting commenced at 5:05pm by Dr. Anthony Panos, 1st Speaker of the Faculty Council.
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Dr. Anthony Panos notified the council that Dr. Carl Schulman will not be attending the meeting.
Medical Library Committee- Dr. Kenneth Muller
At the committee’s meeting on March 29th, 2015, the following were presented and discussed:
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The library secured desktop and student IT support by arrangement with Allan Gyorke, Chief
Academic Technology Officer for UM, to be located on the 1st floor of Calder.
Two positions vacant for 3 years are being filled- one librarian and one library assistant. The
Librarian will be a liaison to researchers on campus and will train, assess patron needs, and
assist with electronic searches.
The Elsevier Science Direct journal package has been renewed for 4 years, with Calder and the
University Libraries negotiating together. Consequently, UM also acquired two additional
databases- EMBASE and Mendeley, plus a new subscription to Methods in Enzymology. Calder
also added subscriptions to 3 JoVE (video journals) titles- Immunology and Infection, Medicine,
and Neuroscience at a greatly reduced price for 3 years.
An endowment account disbursement was approved for new carrels on the 1st floor of Calder,
with a new patron lounge at the back of the library. The lounge will have comfortable furniture
for students and a closed captioned TV with cable.
The new Calder Library website, which went live in January, was presented.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) drawn up with the University and Law Libraries has been
distributed to vendors for both a Discovery Tool and an Integrated Library System (ILS).
Responses and demonstrations are expected this spring.
The committee was told of Dean Goldschmidt’s announcement to the Faculty Council that a new
building for Medical Education was expected to house the library.
Open access journals continue to be discussed at several levels at the Calder and University libraries and
by both the Medical Library Committee and the Faculty Senate Library and Information Resources
Committee. It may be useful for the Medical Faculty Council to review the open access policy adopted
by the University of California Academic Senate (see http://osc.universityofcalifornia.edu/openaccess-policy/)
Although the library continues to be short staffed, there are two other issues related to staffing of the
library that also require the administration's attention. First, as mentioned above, is the establishment
of a Medical Librarian track that would presumably be like the Librarian track at Richter Library, which is
described in the Faculty Manual. Second, the medical libraries require a director, even though, or
especially because, interim Director of Medical Libraries JoAnn Van Schaik has been doing a superb job
as a successor to Mary Moore. Library services continue to be excellent and expanding in the face of
major challenges, staff morale seems high, and the reputation of Ms. Van Schaik is outstanding. The
new Dean of University Libraries, Dr. Eckman, has emphasized to the committee chair, Ken Muller, that
these are both urgent issues and that our interim director is unusually capable and not to be taken for
granted. It is requested that the Faculty Council endorse these concerns.
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Dr. Ellen Barrett doesn’t understand what the issue is related to open access journals, and wants to
know what the policy is.
Dr. Kenneth Muller explained to Dr. Ellen Barrett that open access journals can consume a long
discussion. There’s a greater access to things that researchers produce beyond what exist at this point.
There are two real issues: 1. Open access is opened to everyone. 2. The people who publish have to pay
a fee. Institution in many cases help the researchers publish in the journals. Right now, the library has
very limited support.
The council endorsed the establishment of a Medical Librarian Track at the Richter Library and the
appointment of a Medical Library Director.
NCI Designation- Dr. Stephen Nimer
NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center Designation
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There are currently 41 comprehensive cancer centers according to the NCI. California has as
twice as many people and they don’t have twice as much cancer.
Florida has more cancer per capita than any other state.
Florida- 1 NCI- designated cancer center, Texas has 4, New York has 6, and California has 10.
Cancer by the Numbers
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Cancer is a disease of aging
2014: 43MM Americans 65+
2030: 73MM Americans 65+
Increase: 69%
Moffitt Cancer Center has received tremendous amount of state support for many years. The governor
proposed and approved $60 Million dollar fund in last year’s legislature for the three major cancer
centers in the state, which are Moffitt, University of Florida, and SCCC. This past year the SCCC has
received $16 Million. This is very important in terms of improving the research programs.
NCI Designation
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NCI- designated Cancer Centers serve as major sources of discovery into the nature of cancer
and the development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.
Awarded to 62 qualified institutions in the US that meet a series of rigorous standards.
Supports Cancer Center infrastructure.
Why is NCI Designation Important?
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Indicates that the center has achieved sufficient scientific, clinical research, and organizational
merit.
Implies a level of depth and excellence in three areas of research; basic laboratory; clinical; and
prevention, control and population- based science.
Will facilitate more effective recruitment of top notch physicians and scientists.
Will facilitate the referral of patients locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Will allow us to apply for NCCN membership.
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Will help us gain additional peer reviewed grant funding, philanthropy, and likely State funding.
Will form the basis of our marketing efforts.
The proposed Packaging slide was referenced.
2007 CCSG Submission
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Molecular targets and Developmental Therapeutics (MTDT)- Very Good to Excellent
Behavioral Oncology and Cancer Epidemiology (BOCE)- Very Good to Good
Tumor Immunobiology and Immunotherapy (TII)- Excellent to Very Good
Viral Oncology (VO)- Excellent to Outstanding
The number of multi-investigator grants, where value-added provided by the Center has led to
funding, is still small. In order to increase the output of multi-investigator grants, the programs
will require clear identification of areas of strength where resources can be targeted for future
development.
The Overall Merit of the Programs is rated very good to excellent; it is reduced by the limited
translational integration of the programs, the failure to take maximum advantage of the
Center’s unique capabilities, and sparse examples of value added through participation in the
Cancer Center.
New Cancer Center Members During 2014
Balise, Raymond R., Ph.D., Bhatia, Shivank, M.D., Celik, Emrah, Ph.D., Cho, Jeong H., M.D., Ph.D., Currier,
Maria B., M.D., Daunert, Sylvia, Ph.D., De La Fuente, M., M.D., Komotar, Ricardo J., M.D., Koskan, Alexis
M., Ph.D., Lee, Stephen, Ph.D., Lopez Chavez, Ariel, M.D., Mavrides, Nicole, M.D., Morgan, Susan, Ph.D.,
Mudad, Raja, M.D., Pahwa, Savita, M.D., Potter, JoNell, Ph.D., Punnen, Sanoj, M.D., Rojas, Claudia, M.D.,
Schiff, Eugene R., M.D., Shiekhattar, Ramin, Ph.D., Sun, Xiao-Jian, Ph.D., Swords, Ronan, M.D., Ph.D.,
Wang, Gaofeng, Ph.D., Watts, Justin M., M.D., Yakoub, Danny, M.D., Ph.D., Zhang, Fangliang, Ph.D.
High Impact Publications
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The Cancer Center considers journals with a JIF of 10 or higher to be high impact.
Examples of high impact journals: Nature, Cell, Blood.
The SCCC has a paper coming out in about a month or so. It has 24 authors from 12 different
institutions. It’s a very important. SCCC contributed 1 mouse model of the 7 in the paper.
The CCSG Submission Timeline was referenced.
The surgeon general of the state is awarding SCCC an award as a cancer center of excellence. They will
be the only cancer center in South Florida to receive the award.
SCCC is aiming to be reviewed by the NCI to become an NCI designated cancer center in September of
2017.
Dr. Anthony Panos asked if there are things that can help with their NCI submission in 2017.
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Dr. Stephen Nimer needs a new research facility, which he has approval to fundraise for. They have
approval to renovate, but it cost approximately $200,000 to renovate one lab. They also need to
continue to recruit, and have people work together. They need a lot of multi PI R01s, program project
grants, and training grants. The problem is that they have people who are really hard working and very
dedicated, but they don’t have the track record.
The best way to grow the faculty is to have phenomenal post-doctoral fellows. The best way to have
post-doctoral fellows is to have really good functional labs.
Dr. Stephen Nimer feels that they are under sourced. There are people who are really outstanding.
Dr. Ellen Barrett wanted to know if the new ad campaign is to attract patients or to increase patients
coming in.
Dr. Stephen Nimer responded to Dr. Ellen Barrett’s question. Not many people name SCCC as a cancer
center when you ask them to name a cancer center in Miami. The ads are not positive and they scare
people, but the fact is that they need people to associate Sylvester with cancer. The second ad will
transition to a more positive one.
Executive Promotions Committee- Dr. Monica Dowling
Function of the EPC
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Forum for students who wish to appeal recommendations from class promotions committees or
medical education administration
Recommendations and sanctions are not binding on the EPC
EPC may choose to accept in full, accept in part, modify, overturn, or reject recommendations
sent to it and impose alternate sanctions.
What the EPC does
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Review academic record at UMSM
Review information from class promotions committee
Review information from student (written and oral)
Determine whether student has demonstrated ability to continue with UMSM curriculum, or
recommend remediation or dismissal
Decision enters academic record
Committee Members
Awdeh, Richard; Glassberg, Marilyn; Ramos, Alberto; Shapiro, Arthur; Weiss, Stephen; Burkett, Gene;
Danton, Gary; Dowling, Monica; Franzmann, Elizabeth; Kovach, Jaclyn; Zych, Gregory; Friedman,
Lawrence; Markoe, Arnold; Mavrides, Nicole; Siegel, Yoel; Young, Karen
2014-2015 Academic Year
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Three meetings to date; 1 pending
Reasons: academic performance, professional conduct
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Outcomes:
- Take a 3rd exam
- Reversed Dismissal, allowed LOA, repeat year 2 with AP, mentor
- Immediate LOA, repeat year 1
- Rescinded PEF, continue PDP
Dr. Ellen Barrett asked Dr. Monica Dowling to explain what PEF stands for.
PEF stands for performance evaluation form and PDP stands for the physician development program.
Executive Faculty Curriculum Steering Committee- Dr. Meaghan McNulty
The overall goal of the committee is to review curricula of MD and MD/MPH tracks. They meet every
Tuesday at 8:00am and faculty members that are presenting their courses are invited to the meeting.
There is a balance of both clinical faculty and basic science faculty on the committee.
Faculty Members
Gauri Agarwal, MD; Samita Andreansky, Ph.D.; Ellen Barrett, Ph.D.; Ana Campo, M.D.; Mark Gelbard,
M.D.; Carmen Gomez, M.D.; Robert Irwin, M.D.; Mathias Lichtenheld, M.D., Ph.D.; Daniel Lichtstein,
M.D.; Janice Maldonado, M.D.; Jennifer Marks, M.D.; Humberto Martinez, M.D.; Meaghan McNulty,
M.D.; Ross Scalese, M.D.; Jorge Sotelo, M.D.; David Green, MS; Mark O’Connell, M.D.; Alex Mechaber,
M.D.; Paul Mendez, M.D.; Richard Riley, Ph.D.; Carl Schulman, M.D.; JoAnn Van Schaik
Review Curricula
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Course Schedules
- Challenges with faculty availability (lecturers, small group facilitators)
- Challenges with rooms availability (auditoria, small group rooms)
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Curricular Design Innovations
- Low student attendance at non- mandatory activities
- “Flipped classroom”- Replaces lectures with home study (videos, reading assignments) with
mandatory in class discussion of cases/ applications
- Cane academy with course coordinators
- Encouraging creative, interactive learning opportunities for students
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Exam review
- Following NBME style questions
Review Clerkships and Electives (Main campus and RMC)
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Each of the 3rd year clerkships in both tracks
Many new electives on the Regional Medical campus.
Dr. Pedro Salas has taken some of the MD/MPH courses and in terms of the basic sciences, they are very
similar. He wanted to know if there is any way to combine the two classes.
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Dr. Monica Dowling and the committee have always prepared for a large class, but they don’t have an
auditorium that fits 200 students. There are times in the past where they combined courses and they
had the lectures in one room.
Dr. Ellen Barrett mentioned that all of the public health students are going up to Broward in their 3rd and
4th year because they have a better public health department. She wonders if with the new president’s
interest in public health, if there would be more of that here in UM.
Dr. Monica Dowling’s understanding is that UM has reached capacity to be able to accommodate an
additional 50 students. Students get more of their core requirements in the first two years down in
Miami.
Proposal for a Change in the M.S. in Biostatistics Program- Dr. J.Sunil Rao
Rationale: Purpose and Goals
The role of biostatistical analysis has become an integral part of the research process in order to reach
scientifically defensible conclusion. Researchers from a wide variety of fields are relying more heavily on
sophisticated biostatistics analysis to process large data sets.
Three main goals of the 1-Year MS in Biostatistics are:
1. Train Master’s graduates so they can support doctoral level biostatisticians
2. Enhance researchers skill sets to make them more effective in their disciplines
3. Generate revenue to support the graduate program in Biostatistics
Demand and Job Market
Overview
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Demand for Master’s level biostatisticians outstrip the supply in the job market
University of Miami
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Demand is so high that PhD students are addressing Master’s level problems
Potential Employers
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Two major non-academic employers of biostatisticians are:
1. Pharmaceutical Companies
2. Government Agencies
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Other employers of biostatisticians include:
1. Financial services
2. Consulting companies
3. Hospitals
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Background
Current Two- Year Master’s in Biostatistics
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The Division of Biostatistics currently offers a two- year MS in Biostatistics program
This degree is theoretically oriented and difficult to distinguish from the PhD in Biostatistics
Program
Proposed One- Year Master’s in Biostatistics
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This will be a terminal (applied) degree
Expected to attract wider group of professionals interested in strengthening their analytical
skills in Biostatistics
Changes in the Curriculum
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The 1- Year program will require a total of 33 credits, down 11 credit from the 2- Year program
The program will include 5 courses in both the Fall and Spring semesters and an additional 2
courses in the summer to complete the degree
Courses that are more theoretically oriented will be eliminated from the curriculum
All proposed courses are currently offered, except the following two, which will need to be
created:
1. BSTXXX: Clinical Trails (Spring)
2. BSTXXX: Case Studies (Summer)
The Proposed schedule of required courses slide was referenced.
Students
Number and Pool
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Will actively market the program and recruit through FY16
Expect to recruit 15 students per year (steady rate) starting FY17, with a Fall 2016 start date
Minimum Requirements for Admission and Retention
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Completed bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field
Completion with B or better of courses that are the equivalent of EPH501 and EPH502
Some evidence of experience with computing
Completion with B or better of a course focused on multivariable calculus
The Business plan slide was referenced.
Dr. Ellen Barrett asked about the tuition costs.
Dr. J. Sunil Rao clarified that the tuition is actually calculated per credit hour and it’s in the high 30’s.
Dr. Gabriel Contreras asked for a more quantitative value of what the demand is, and what the starting
salary is.
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Dr. J. Sunil Rao stated that every pharmaceutical company has teams of Statisticians. Google is also
moving into this area. The starting salary is in the $70- $80’s. The demand is there.
Dr. Anthony Panos asked if the name of the program is going to change.
Dr. J. Sunil Rao confirmed that the name of the program is going to change.
Comparison to Other Master’s Programs Nationally
Virginia Commonwealth University
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SOCSCAC accredited University with a similar program and similar in length
Harvard University
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Harvard offers four different Master’s program tracks in Biostatistics, two of which are relevant
for comparisons.
1. A 1-Year Master’s program, also oriented to prepare students for doctoral research. The
objectives of this program are identical to those of first one, but is only tailored for students
with abundant mathematical background.
2. A 1.5 Years Master’s terminal program oriented to prepare its graduates for jobs in medical
research.
Yale University
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Yale offers a 2- Year Master’s program which can serve both as the theoretical foundation for a
PhD and as a terminal degree. It is in time and scope very different of the Master’s program in
Biostatistics at UM.
John Hopkins University
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2- Year MS intended to the formation of professional statisticians. This program has a strong
mathematical foundation in comparison with the MS in Biostatistics at UM that is completely
applied in nature.
George Washington University
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1- Year MS. Of all the programs considered, this is the closest to the MS in Biostatistics at UM,
although it has more stringent requirements for admission. However, the program at GWU is
also more theoretical on its requisites, determining so a difference with our more applied focus.
Columbia University
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Columbia University offers several options for Master’s program in Biostatistics.
1. Theory and Methods. This is a 2-years program that can be viewed either as terminal degree
or preparation for the PhD
2. A 1-Year program for students with adequate mathematical formation whose final goal is
the PhD
3. 1- Year MS in Biostatistics, Clinical Research Methods Track
4. 1- Year MS in Biostatistics, Pharmaceutical Research Track
5. 2- Year MS Patient Orientated Research
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Dr. Michael Benatar worries that the one year program is too short to give people the applied skills that
they need.
Dr. J. Sunhil Rao has given it some serious thought. He has mapped out and revamped the syllabi. He
feels that it’s a pretty effective degree. It’s a program to train students with enough skills to be effective
in what they want them to be able to do.
Motion for approval: Unanimously approved
Dr. Michael Benatar is concerned with the new compensation program and its possible impact on staff
who are paid from extramural grants. If pay raises are dictated with UM, there may not be funds
available to pay the new salary levels.
Dr. Pedro Salas agreed to meet with Human Resources regarding this issue.
Meeting adjourned at 6:45pm by Dr. Anthony Panos, 1st Speaker of the Medical Faculty Council.
Next meeting scheduled to take place on April 28th, 2015 at the SCCC- 1301 Conference Room.
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