August 10, 2017Hello, Our medical students are back on campus and starting the fall semester. I had the honor of welcoming our new students at orientation in late July and have been saying farewell to a number of residents and fellows who’ve stopped by my office, sharing appreciation for wonderful training experiences. In addition to meeting our new students, I’ve had the chance to meet a number of new faces and longtime faculty members over the past few weeks. Dr. Steven Sherman is the senior vice president and chief academic officer ad interim at MD Anderson Cancer Center. I went to his office to say hello and was delighted to learn that we went to the same high school in NYC—small world. I look forward to continuing the strong relationship we have with MD Anderson. Dr. Tim Garson, director of the TMC Health Policy Institute, and I met to discuss a number of areas of shared interests including an exciting new seminar course on the components and controversies of health policy that will start in January and be open to the public. Drs. Myron Allukian and Susan Wootton are the medical school faculty leading our participation in the course. I also met with Dr. John Reveille, the George S. Bruce, Jr. Professor in Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases and Linda and Ronny Finger Foundation Distinguished Chair in Neuroimmunologic Disorders. I continue to be impressed by his dedication to patients, his love of discovery, and his loyalty to our medical school. Dr. John Harvin, assistant professor of surgery, and I discussed his innovative research, which involves emergency abdominal laparotomy as well as better understanding of exception from informed consent in emergency settings (EFIC). I also met with our first department vice chair for diversity, Dr. Omonele Nwokolo, assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Holger Eltzschig told us about a similar program at the University of Colorado and volunteered to have the Department of Anesthesiology initiate a pilot program at UT. Dr. Nwokolo and I started what I hope will be an ongoing conversation about how departments are addressing issues of diversity and inclusion. Many of you know Lynn Cutrer. She joined the medical school in 2001 as manager of patient and community relations to provide individualized support to patients and their families. Over these 16 years she has helped guide hundreds of patients through our complex medical system. Lynn is a wonderful bridge to our patients and ambassador for the medical school. Please join me in thanking her for all she does. We’ve welcomed Devan Santora back to our office. We are delighted to have Devan back at work after the birth of her daughter, Adeline, on June 9. 很难相信我们已经开始考虑教师的年度评论。我在新学年举行了第一次与规划副总裁Karen Spillar和Devan Santora举行的会议,以计划今年的部门主席评论。我必须承认,似乎我们刚刚完成了这些。凯文·莫拉诺(Kevin Morano)博士的办公室负责监督年度教师审查过程,这对于教师和计划发展非常重要。 I’ve been spending my recent weekends doing homework, preparing for a meeting I attended last week at the Gates Foundation in Seattle. The foundation is reviewing its portfolio in maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) and asked me to join a conversation on the future direction for innovation/new tools and health system strengthening. The meeting was an exciting two days—with many of my old friends from the global MNCH community. I was honored to be a part of this distinguished group. Congratulations to UT Physicians Bayshore Family Practice Center on being our first primary care family medicine clinic to earn NCQA level III Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) status. In this nationally recognized model, each patient’s care is overseen by a clinician-led team that coordinates treatment across the healthcare system, optimizing care for the unique needs of the patient. Our other UT Physicians primary care clinics also will submit for NCQA recognition in the coming years. Thanks to Dr. Tom Murphy, assistant dean for community affairs and health policy, for spearheading this effort, and to all of the clinicians, front-line caregivers, and those working behind the scenes who provide the very best care to our patients. I know many of you have watched thewhite coat video。Dr. Michelle Barratt gave abeautiful speechat our ceremony that she graciously agreed to share. 最后,我们告别了纪念赫尔曼卫生系统的高级副总裁兼总裁克雷格·科尔多拉(Craig Cordola),他要离开休斯顿成为德克萨斯州晋升的高级副总裁兼事工市场主管。他给我的UT朋友和同事发送了一封可爱的信随附的。我们希望他以及他为一个新的移动到奥斯汀career adventure. Warm regards, 芭芭拉 |