March
2003
Volume 27 •
No. 3
PET/CT scanner offers improved cancer diagnosis, treatment
SHC reports positive earnings, successful turnaround effort
New medical staff Web site provides useful information
School of Medicine retreat strengthens support, collaboration on strategic planning effort
Principal-investigator status approved for MCL faculty members
Lane Library hosts event celebrating National Doctors Day
Activities planned for national Patient Safety Week
New patient satisfaction survey will help improve service
Surgeon and community health-care pioneer dies at 82
Principal-investigator
status approved
for MCL faculty members
Members of the Medical Center Line faculty at the School of Medicine can
now serve as principal investigators on sponsored research grants, the
university's Faculty Senate unanimously agreed on Jan. 23.
The change will make it easier for these faculty members to conduct research, as they will no longer have to seek a waiver to obtain principal-investigator status. Senate members said the issue was a matter of fairness in that MCL faculty, who spend up to 80 percent of their time in the clinic, are still expected to conduct research as a condition for promotion.
University provost John Etchemendy noted that there have been instances where MCL faculty members have been denied promotions because they lacked scholarly publications. While waivers for PI status are routinely granted, the need for these waivers adds a level of complexity to the process, he said. "It simply hangs over their heads as an inappropriate symbol of a different status," Etchemendy said.
The restriction on PI status goes back to 1989, when the university's Academic Council created the MCL faculty, who were then largely viewed as clinicians and educators. Since then, the number of MCL faculty has grown and their role has changed, as an increasing number have become involved in research projects, principally clinical research. In the fall of 2002, the School of Medicine reinforced the expectation that MCL faculty must contribute to scholarly publications as a criteria for appointment, reappointment and promotion.
Philip Pizzo, dean of the medical school, noted that the role of these faculty members is all the more critical now, as they are key to the school's focus on translational medicine.
"They have one foot in the lab and one foot in the clinic and are essential to how we conduct that translation," David Stevenson, senior associate dean for academic affairs, told the 70 senate members present.
Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, chair of the senate committee that recommended the change, noted that MCL faculty members would gain no other privileges, such as membership on the Academic Council. MCL faculty members are not eligible for tenure.
Dean Pizzo said no additional resources would be required as a result of the change, as MCL faculty members generate revenue to support their salaries through their patient-care activities.
