PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL MINUTES<
November 26, 2008

Present: Ray Greenberg (chair), Tom Anderson, Wallace Bonaparte, Joe Good, Chip Hood, Sarah King, Walter Limehouse, John Raymond, Jerry Reves, Jack Sanders, and Sabra Slaughter.

Guests: Susan Barnhart, Susie Edwards, Tom Higerd, Steve Lanier, Louis Luttrell, Stephen Valerio, and Patrick Wamsley.

Dr. Ray Greenberg called the meeting to order at 10:10 A.M.

ITEM 1 Financial Updates The University reported $ 45.1 Million in operating cash; the average monthly cash level over the past year is $ 57.5 Million. There was no report from MUHA although the understanding was that MUHA had positive earnings last month. The UMA set a record month for charges ($ 74 Million) and collections ($ 19.4 Million) reflecting an 8% increase in work RVUs.

ITEM 2 Approval for University Center Designation – John A. Colwell MUSC Diabetes Research Center

A request for a University Center honoring the work of Dr. John Colwell was presented by Dr. Louis M. Luttrell. Dr. Colwell, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, was the founding director of MUSC’s Division of Endocrinology as well as the South Carolina Diabetes Initiative. The Center’s mission is to reduce the social and economic burden of diabetes by focusing academic efforts on the development and dissemination of new diabetes treatments.

ACTION: The members of President’s Council unanimously approved this request. This will be taken to the December meeting Board of Trustees as an action item.

ITEM 3 Interprofessional Faculty Institute

Provost John Raymond introduced the concept forwarded by Dr. Amy Blue to establish this Institute to assist in developing/improving MUSC’s efforts in the Board of Trustees and SACS approved Quality Enhancement Plan entitled: Creating Collaborative Care.

ACTION: The members of President’s Council unanimously approved this request.

ITEM 4: General Updates

Dr. Reves reported that last week’s LDI meeting on the Excellence Program in the College of Medicine was well attended and the discussions were very useful in focusing the group’s effort.

Dr. Raymond reported on the excellent NCI P30 proposal and the leadership of Dr. Andrew Kraft in what is expected to be an “outstanding” or “excellent” evaluation of HCC by the visiting team. Dr. Raymond also forewarned of additional state cuts in appropriations, and that the deans should be meeting shortly to plan accordingly.

Mr. Bonaparte reported that beginning in January 2009, the new federal guidelines on reporting race and ethnicity will be adopted by MUSC.

Joe Good will review CHE policy on out-of-state student enrollment for future discussions.

Chip Hood reported that a number of licensing agreements are being renegotiated in light of the general economic downturn.

Dr. Limehouse stated that the hospital’s reorganization of Emergency Room services has gone smoothly; however, concern has been expressed about the potential impact of merging emergency psychiatric care within the revised structure.

Dr. King shared data illustrating the value of media coverage of MUSC during 2008 in comparison to peer institutions.

Mr. Anderson commented about the challenges of endowment payouts during the current economic decline.

Dr. Slaughter summarized the outcome of a recent meeting with Congressman Clyburn who expressed continued support and willingness to advocate for MUSC.

Dr. Greenberg wished everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

The meeting adjourned at 12:00 PM