Council of Academic Societies
The CAS Report is designed to inform CAS representatives, officers and staff of CAS and AAMC activities of interest to faculty. Duplication and redistribution of the CAS Report is encouraged. Contact Tony Mazzaschi, Director of CAS Affairs, (202-828-0059; tmazzaschi@aamc.org) for more information on any item mentioned or to share comments and suggestions on this publication and CAS activities generally.
CAS Nominations Solicited -- The CAS is soliciting nominations for the position of CAS chair-elect (2000-2001) and for three positions on the CAS Administrative Board. Dr. George Sheldon chairs the 2000 CAS Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee's report will be considered during the CAS Business Meeting on October 30, during the AAMC 2000 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Candidates must be current CAS representatives and self-nominations are welcome. Letters of nomination, including a short c.v., should be submitted to Ms. Alison Smith no later than July 1 by e-mail or fax (202-828-1125).
Scholarship Papers Tentatively Scheduled for September Publication - The CAS Scholarship Task Force has developed and begun implementing the CAS Scholarship Papers Initiative. More than a dozen leading faculty members and administrators have authored papers on topics related to the evolving definition of scholarship within the academic medical community. The manuscripts have been submitted as a package to Academic Medicine. Based on the results of the journal's peer review process, we hope the papers will be the basis of a September theme issue of Academic Medicine.
CAS Membership at All Time High - Dr. Barbara Schuster, chair of the CAS Membership Committee, recently reported that membership in the CAS stands at 91 societies (15 basic science societies, 72 clinical societies, and 4 interdisciplinary societies). The combined (duplicated) membership of the CAS member societies is over 388,000. Eleven new societies have been admitted to the CAS in the past two years. If you would like to recommend an academic society for membership, please send an e-mail message to staff..
CAS Professionalism Task Force Sponsors Two Initiatives at CAS Spring Meeting - The CAS Professionalism Task Force, chaired by Dr. Terry Cooper, sponsored a discussion forum on "Individual and Institutional Responses to Issues of Professionalism" during the CAS Spring Meeting, using several case studies developed by Task Force Members. In addition, throughout the meeting a series of vignettes, many also developed by the Task Force, were displayed. Meeting participants were encouraged to write comments concerning the vignettes directly on the display boards. Copies of the vignettes and responses are available upon request from staff.
New CAS Task Force Formed on Culture and Its Impact on the Patient-Physician Relationship - A new CAS Task Force has been created to explore the effects of cultural, social and economic issues on the patient-physician interaction and the implications on medical education. Specifically, the Task Force is charged with identifying ways in which CAS representatives and member societies can contribute to the dialogue about these issues within the AAMC and its member institutions. Chaired by Dr. Lynn Eckhert, the Task Force is developing a short survey of CAS member societies on their existing programs in this area.
CAS to Sponsor Three Plenary Sessions at the AAMC Annual Meeting in Chicago - The CAS will sponsor three plenary sessions at the upcoming AAMC Annual Meeting in Chicago. On Sunday, October 29, the CAS will sponsor a session entitled, "Perspectives on Scholarship," which will continue the discussions on scholarship fostered by the CAS Scholarship Task Force. A second session on Sunday, October 29, will discuss, "Creating a Productive Learning Environment." This plenary is being sponsored in conjunction with the Organization of Resident Representatives (ORR) and will explore ways institutional leaders, faculty and students can collaborate to enhance the teaching and learning environment. A session on Monday afternoon, October 30, will discuss "Evaluating Competency." That session will immediately follow the CAS Business Meeting and Lunch. The AAMC Annual Meeting preliminary program and registration information will be distributed in July.
Extra Copies of Savannah Agenda Books Available - Extra copies of the agenda book from the 2000 CAS Spring Meeting in Savannah are available upon request, while supplies last. To obtain a copy, send a request to staff..
2001 CAS Spring Meeting Scheduled for San Antonio - The CAS will hold its 2001 Spring Meeting at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, March 22-25, 2001. Program and registration information will be mailed in late December. Please be aware that special events and sessions being scheduled in conjunction with the meeting may affect travel schedules.
NRMP Includes New Specialty Matches, Including Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and the organization of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Program Directors recently announced the establishment of the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Specialty Match. The first match will be for training beginning July 1, 2001. Registration with the NRMP for the new fellowship began in December 1999 and will continue through October 11, 2000. Applicants will learn whether they matched into the program on November 8, 2000. The NRMP has also announced the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Match for 2001 appointments. The National Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Consortium has requested a Matching Program for fellowship positions that begin in July 2001. Results will be announced January 24, 2001. All residents and physicians who are considering or have applied for such positions should contact the NRMP at (202) 862-6077 for the Child and Adolescent Specialty Match applicant agreement form. Applicant agreements are available beginning May 2000 and will be accepted until January 3, 2001. In addition to conducting the general Match in the spring of each year, the NRMP provides matching services for many specialties throughout the year.
MSOP Progress Report Released - CAS representatives were recently mailed a progress report on the Medical School Objectives Project (MSOP). A new report (MSOP Report III), Contemporary Issues in Medicine: Communication in Medicine, was published late last year. The report includes a white paper by Gregory Makoul, Ph.D., Director, Communication in Medicine Program, Northwestern University School of Medicine. In addition to setting forth detailed learning objectives and suggested learning strategies, Dr. Makoul's paper provides insight into the current approaches employed for teaching communication skills to medical students. Report III also includes a report prepared by the Task Force on Spirituality, Cultural Issues, and End-of-Life Care. This information should be of value to institutional leaders as they evaluate approaches being used in their schools and consider how to incorporate suggested educational experiences set forth in Dr. Makoul's paper and the report of the Task Force. For copies of MSOP III send an e-mail message to staff. Two new MSOP panels have been formed on basic science and clinical research. The rosters of these panels are available by sending a message to staff.
Faculty Mentoring Programs Database - As a resource to schools and societies developing faculty mentoring programs, the AAMC Women in Medicine program is compiling brief descriptions of medical school faculty mentoring programs. Descriptions have been obtained from the following schools: Stanford, Arkansas, U. Wisconsin, Univ. of Virginia, Boston U., Texas-Houston, Mayo, UCLA, Calgary, MCP Hahnemann, and East Carolina. In order to request a copy and/or to add your school, please contact Renee Marshall Lawson, (202) 828-0521 or <mlawson@aamc.org>.
New Web Tool for MEDLOANS Borrowers - Medical students have a new tool to gain private access to information about their MEDLOANS portfolios. The AAMC MEDLOANS web page provides a direct link for borrowers through the USA Group, which processes loans in the MEDLOANS program and serves as loan servicer. The MEDLOANS website provides one-stop-shopping for students to apply for and manage their medical school loans.
MD2 - Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors Web Site Available - Now available on the Web, Phase II, Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors (MD2) "The Medical School Years" is the second part of a three-part manual that provides financial advisement information for premedical students, medical students, residents, and physicians in their early practice years. Phase I of MD2 focuses on the premedical years and Phase III the post-medical school years. The Committee on Student Financial Assistance (COSFA) of the AAMC sponsors the MD2 Project. T
New Debt Management Guide for Residents and Graduate Medical Education Staff Available - "The Layman's Guide to Educational Debt Management for Residents and Graduate Medical Education Staff" is a web site designed to provide current, basic, and objective information on how to better manage educational debt during residency and beyond. The guide is based on eight simple, easy to follow strategies for managing student loans.
Salary Survey Available - The 1998-99 Report on Medical School Faculty Salaries is now available. The report, issued in March 2000, includes data on total compensation attributable to teaching, patient care and research for 61,262 faculty members. This year's report includes data for 23 additional departments/divisions and adopts more precise naming conventions, changes the tabular presentation of the data, and restructures the published data sequence. In addition, a number of supplementary tables not included in the published report can be produced. These tables, which may be prepared for selected groups of schools or faculty, and which may utilize percentiles other than the 20th, 50th, and 80th, are available upon request at a moderate cost. Copies can be ordered by calling (202) 828-0416.
New CurrMIT Information Tool Available - AAMC's Curriculum Management and Information Tool (CurrMIT) recently became available to all LCME accredited schools in the U.S. and Canada. Developed to help medical schools improve their curriculum management capabilities, the password-protected database is accessed via the Internet. Medical school administrators can use keywords provided by AAMC or develop entirely new categories and keywords. CurrMIT provides tools for analyzing trends in medical education and will also aid schools responding to data requests prior to an LCME site visit. For more information send an e-mail message to the CurrMIT staff.
Faculty Demographic Characteristics Available on Web - Designed to answer commonly asked questions about medical school faculty members' gender, ethnicity, department, rank, degree, and specialty, AAMC's "U.S. Medical School Faculty, 1999," is now available on the AAMC Web site. According to the report, women represented 27.4 percent of all full-time faculty members in 1999, and 46.6 percent of faculty members held non-tenure track appointments. Additional information about the Faculty Roster System is available on-line.
New 1999 COTH Survey of Housestaff Stipends, Benefits and Funding Available - The Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems Survey of Housestaff Stipends, Benefits, and Funding has been fielded annually since 1968. The new COTH Housestaff Survey, published in January 2000, is available to all AAMC constituents and all others with an interest in graduate medical education issues. For any questions about the COTH Housestaff Survey or COTH Housestaff Survey Data, contact Denise Washington at 202/828-0985.
Guide to Dealing with Unionization Issues Now Available - The recent National Labor Relations Board's decision in the Boston Medical Center case found that medical residents are employees and have the right to unionize. As a result of this decision there has been much interest about the meaning of the decision and its implications for other institutions. In an effort to answer some of the questions that have been raised, the AAMC has prepared a publication, After the Boston Medical Center Case: The Nuts and Bolts of Resident Unions. Copies are available by contacting staff..
AAMC Establishes Program to Fund Medical Student-Initiated Service Projects - The AAMC, in collaboration with Pfizer, Inc., and the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, has established a new institutional grant program entitled Caring for Community. The program is designed to encourage the development of medical student-initiated services and programs to local communities. The AAMC will manage the Community Service Fund, a philanthropy created to support the community service projects. For a copy of the Caring for Community program brochure, which outlines specific details and requirements for participation, call the program office at 202-828-0250.
AAMC and PRIM&R Sponsoring Conferences on Regulations Relating to Human Subjects Research - AAMC and the organization Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research (PRIM&R) have sponsored a series of meetings on issues related to human subjects research. An October 21, 1999, conference, IRBs in Crisis: Institutional Responses, provided information for leaders and administrators in academic medicine on ways to ensure the integrity of their research activities involving human subjects. Regional seminars designed to improve the effectiveness of IRBs by instructing administrators, IRB members, clinical investigators and research staff in the fundamentals of human subjects protection requirements and IRB functioning, were held on January 24, 2000 in Tampa and on May 12, 2000, in San Diego. The final session in this current series is scheduled for September 18, 2000, in Chicago. For more information on the Chicago session see the AAMC web page.
2000 Executive Development Seminar for Associate Deans and Department Chairs Scheduled - The program and registration material for the October 13-18, 2000 Executive Development Seminar for Associate Deans and Department Chairs will be available shortly. This popular meeting, which is normally over-subscribed, will be held at the Lago Mar Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The program is available by sending an e-mail to staff.
Human Subject Proclamation Circulated - AAMC member institutions and societies have been urged by AAMC President Jordan Cohen, M.D., to consider signing a proclamation and pledge stating the importance of protecting human subjects in clinical research. The proclamation was created to help reaffirm the trust between medical science and the public. For additional information, please contact Dave Moore at 202-828-0559.
Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Issues FY 2001 Recommendations - The AAMC has endorsed a recent funding proposal by the Friends of VA Medical Care and Research (FOVA) for VA medical care and medical and prosthetics research. FOVA recommends an FY 2001 funding level of $20.8 billion for VA medical care. In addition, it is recommending an FY 2001 VA research appropriation of at least $386 million. This research funding level would put the program back on track to recover from years of minimal increases. FOVA's recommendation represents a $65 million (20 percent) increase over FY 2000 funding of $321 million. Additional organizational endorsements of the recommendation are being sought. For more information, contact Jonathan Fishburn of the AAMC Office of Government Relations at 202-828-0057. Detailed issue briefs on VA funding are available on the AAMC Government Affairs web page.
Health Professions Coalition Issues FY 2001 Recommendations - The AAMC has endorsed the recommendation of the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) that Title VII and VIII programs should receive an appropriation of at least $335 million for FY 2001, not including children's hospital GME. This represents a 10 percent increase over the amount the Congress appropriated in FY 2000. Additional organization endorsements are being sought. For more information, contact Erica Froyd of the AAMC Office of Government Relations at 202-828-0558 . A detailed issue brief on health professions funding is available on the AAMC Government Affairs web page.
Ad Hoc Group Issues FY 2001 Recommendations - The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Funding recently issued its support for an NIH appropriation of $20.5 billion, representing the third installment of 15 percent increases since FY 1999 to double NIH funding by FY 2003. In its FY 2001 proposal, the Group recognizes recent research advances and provides suggestions for use of the additional funding in basic research, translational and clinical research, research training and infrastructure. The Ad Hoc Group's proposal is available on their web site.
AAMC Study Shows Women Are Less Likely Than Men to Achieve Senior Faculty Ranks in Academic Medicine - While the number of women at all levels of academic medicine is increasing, women continue to lag behind their male counterparts in entering the senior ranks of the profession, according to a study from the AAMC published in the Feb.10 New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). According to Lynn Nonnemaker, Ph.D., author of the study, possible explanations include: lower productivity, as measured by numbers of publications or external grants; fewer hours devoted to their work; and fewer resources provided by the medical school. To obtain a printed copy of the article, send an e-mail message to staff.
AAMC Study Reaffirms Role of U.S. Teaching Hospitals as Leading Providers of Special Surgical Procedures - According to an AAMC study, major U.S. teaching hospitals are the dominant providers of many specialized surgical procedures. The greater concentration of specialized surgical procedures at teaching hospitals accounts for, in part, the higher costs often associated with these institutions. "Unless these specialized services are recognized and accounted for with appropriate adjustments for case mix and severity, some hospitals may appear less efficient and lower in quality than their non-teaching competitors," Levin, et al. write. The research was conducted by the AAMC's Rebecca Levin, Ernest Moy, M.D., and Paul Griner, M.D. and published in the January/February 2000 edition of Health Affairs. For a printed copy of the article, send an e-mail message to staff.
Memorial Fund Established - AAMC has launched a nationwide fund-raising drive to establish the Herbert W. Nickens Memorial Fund with a goal of creating a $1 million endowment. The Fund will support three purposes: 1) to provide at least five annual scholarships of $5,000 each to outstanding medical students from underrepresented minority groups; 2) to provide an annual $15,000 fellowship award to a minority junior faculty member at a U.S. medical school; and 3) to provide an annual award of $10,000 for the Nickens Memorial Lecture, to be delivered at the AAMC Annual Meeting. The Society of Surgical Chairman, a CAS member society, has made a very generous contribution to the Fund and encourages other CAS societies to make a contribution in honor of Dr. Nickens and his tireless efforts on behalf of justice in medical education and health care. More information on the Fund is available from Vanessa Northington Gamble, M.D., Ph.D., AAMC Vice President for Minority and Community Affairs, at 202-828-0572.
AAMC Names New Vice Presidents - Dr. Jordan Cohen, AAMC president, recently announced the appointment of four new division heads. David P. Stevens, M.D., was named Vice President for Medical School Standards and Assessments. Dr. Stevens will also serve as joint secretary of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for all U.S. and Canadian medical schools. He replaces Donald Kassebaum, M.D., who headed the Medical School Standards and Assessments Division since its founding in 1992 and retired on October 1, 1999. Vanessa Northington Gamble, M.D., Ph.D., has been named Vice President for Community and Minority Programs. Dr. Gamble most recently served as associate professor of History of Medicine and Family Medicine and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Dr. Gamble replaces Herbert Nickens, M.D., who died in March 1999. Jeanne Mella was recently named Vice President, Office of Information Resources. David M. Witter, Jr., has been named Vice President for Business Development in the newly-created Office of Enterprise Development.
New Contemporary Issues in Medical Education Fact Sheets Issued - Contemporary Issues in Medical Education (CIME) is a series of data briefs focusing on topics in medical education. Recent releases in the series of fact sheets analyze AAMC data bases, information derived from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) questionnaires and other material. Recent topics include: "The Predictive Validity of the Medical College Admission Test," "Rising Medical Student Indebtedness," "Responding to the Challenges of Healthy People 2010: Focus on Domestic Violence," and "Evidence Based Medicine Instruction." CIME Fact Sheets are available on-line.
New CAMCAM Fact Sheets Issued - Several new fact sheets are available from AAMC's Center for the Assessment and Management of Change in Academic Medicine (CAMCAM). Recent offerings of particular interest to CAS members include: "Medical Education through Community Service," "New Research into Gender Equity at U.S. Medical Schools," and "Trends in Medical School Faculty Salaries." The fact sheets are available on-line or from staff.
AAMC Commends ACP-ASIM Report on the Uninsured - The American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM) recently completed a comprehensive review of the literature relating to uninsured Americans. The review found that people who don't have health insurance, or have coverage that is inadequate, suffer severe consequences, including reduced access to care and substantially poorer health outcomes. The AAMC joins with the ACP-ASIM and other medical and health care organizations to call for immediate attention to developing a comprehensive solution to this crisis. The full report is available on-line is is AAMC's statement of commendation.
CAS Representatives Featured in Academic Physician and Scientist -- Most issues of Academic Physician & Scientist carry a featured commentary written by a CAS Society representative or officer. To suggest future editorials or for copies of a previous editorial, contact staff. Recent commentaries include: · "Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics Are Models for Efforts to Reduce Medical Errors," by Raymond Woosley, M.D., Ph.D., Georgetown University and president of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (May/June 2000). · "Human Stem Cell Research Should Not Be a Lost Opportunity," by A.F. Haney, M.D., Duke University and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (March./April 2000). · "New Federal Regulations on Research Misconduct a Welcome Change," by Paul Friedman, M.D., of University of California, San Diego and former chair of the CAS (January/February 2000). · "Regulatory Burdens to Research: Is Relief Over the Horizon?," by Robert Rich, M.D., Emory, FASEB president-elect, and a member of the AAMC Advisory Panel on Research.
Dr. Strax Named to Medicare Coverage Advisory Panel - Thomas E. Strax, M.D., CAS representative from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and professor and chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the UMDNJ - R. W. Johnson Medical School, was recently named to the Medical Devices and Prosthetics Panel of the HCFA Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee. The Committee, formed to serve as an advisory body to HCFA on national coverage decisions, will review and evaluate medical literature, analyze technology assessments and examine data and information on the effectiveness and appropriateness of medical devices and procedures. Dr. Strax was nominated by the AAMC.
Orientation to the AAMC - Each spring the AAMC conducts an orientation to its structure and programs at its headquarters building in Washington, D.C. This session is especially useful to individuals who are new to their administrative positions and whose responsibilities involve interaction with the Association. Individuals from CAS member societies who are interested in participating in this year's program on Monday, June 19, should fax Cynthia Withers at 202-828-1125 to sign up. Please list your name, title, school and a phone number in the event we need to contact you.
Faculty Listserves Available - AAMC has established a number of e-mail listserves as a service to various components of the academic medicine community. Listserves are available for CAS members, basic and clinical chairs, and for those interested in graduate education, among others. These listserves provide a forum for posting information, exchanging ideas, posing questions, and discovering solutions. The easiest way to subscribe is to visit the AAMC listserve web page. Details also are available by contacting staff..
Future CAS Spring Meeting - March, 22-24, 2001 Westin Riverwalk San Antonio, TX
Future AAMC Annual Meetings - See the schedule of future AAMC Annual Meetings on-line.
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