Dean's Newsletter - July 2008

I was delighted to welcome nearly 100 members of our Medical School to a retreat on 1st and 2nd July to discuss a range of issues facing Medical School. In opening the discussion I spoke of the need for us to aspire for distinction in the following areas:

Research
The research experience at Sydney needs to be distinctive for students in all of our programs. We need to develop strategies to enhance this experience, our productivity and the impact of our research. The Associate Deans (Research) – Professor David Burke, David Handelsman and Graham Mann - led discussion in which the importance of clinical research development in all of our sites was strongly supported. There was also support for the Research Committee identifying a series of core competencies that we would like all research students to achieve. Several other recommendations will be developed in more detail by the Research Committee.

Education
Professor Tessa Ho presented a convincing case for the development of a research year that would be available to selected Medical Program students. The need for greater research opportunities for all students during their option and elective terms was also endorsed. The Office of Medical Education will develop formal proposals for further discussion.

Professor Tim Shaw spoke of the numerous opportunities for postgraduate education ranging from the provision of continuing medical education to involvement in advanced specialty training and research training during specialist training programs. These concepts will be developed further by OPME.

The structure and content of the BMedSc degree within the Medical School of Science was discussed by Emeritus Professor Ann Sefton. Professor Sefton questioned some of the content of the current BMedSc degree and suggested early inclusion of more relevant medical sciences such as biostatistics, psychology and biochemistry. These ideas will be developed further by the admissions review working party which is examining pre-medical programs. Professor Arthur Conigrave has agreed to join this group and others interested are invited to contact Professors Oates and Goulston who are chairing the working party.

International
Dr Lyndal Trevena gave an excellent overview of the range of activities currently undertaken by the Faculties of Health International Office. Our current focus is on countries in Asia including China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Timor L’Este. There was a strong suggestion that support for programs in Papua New Guinea be considered. I have also received suggestions that, as a medical school with a global orientation, we should also consider developing links with Africa.

Community
Promoting and engaging our Medical School with our community is of undoubted importance. Our clinical and public health activities already make very valuable contributions. We can also have an impact on issues of national significance: the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health has provided us with a unique opportunity and responsibility to contribute to “closing the gap”; our application as the lead university for the Remote Area Health Corps to be established by the Department of Health and Ageing will, if successful, also provide us – and our alumni – with a new, but very rewarding, challenge.

Much of our community engagement involves the development of new partnerships and linkages with organisations, donors, staff and alumni. Amanda Durack and Beth Quinlivan of our new Development Office spoke of their range of activities including donor relations, a bequest program, the Dean’s Scholarship Fund, enhanced communications with alumni (of which the new Radius is but on example).


We were also privileged to have the incoming Vice-Chancellor, Dr Michael Spence, address us on the role of the University in the community. Dr Spence stressed the importance of research led teaching, of empowering the faculties and of his perception of his role in facilitating links amongst faculties and with government and the wider community.

Infrastructure
The final session encompassed planning for our future infrastructure – physical, financial and human – with Mr Paul Berkemeier presenting concepts for an educational development to include public health, medicine, nursing and physics behind the Edward Ford Building. Professor Richmond Jeremy has committed $1M for the initial planning processes. Paul has also been instrumental in helping us develop the case for the proposed purchase of land for enhanced clinical school facilities at Nepean and for the purchase of student accommodation. Some of you may be aware that there are also plans for the redevelopment of research, clinical and dental educational facilities at Westmead.

Professor David Cook spoke of the success of our current budget strategies which are on target to create a $4M surplus to be earmarked for our building fund. He particularly commented on the outstanding skills and hard work which have enabled Mark Easson and his finance team to catalyse this dramatic improvement in the Medical School’s financial situation. He noted, however, that further initiatives will be required to enable us to manage the abolition of local fee-paying places and the introduction of the ERA (Excellence in Research in Australia). Medical School will also need to identify new revenue opportunities to support the wide range of our activities.

Professors Ben Freedman and Chris Roberts presented the approach they are developing to a request I made for a review of our current staffing profile. We are concerned about the ageing profile of our staff and the lack of gender balance and minority representation. Ben and Chris, with the assistance of Louise Baur, are developing a questionnaire which we hope you will be able to complete in only ten minutes. Your responses will help us to determine priorities for funding of disciplines and the recruitment of early career teachers and researchers.

Institute of Forensic Medicine and Science
At the retreat Professor Ron Trent outlined the developments to date in the planning for this new Institute within the University. Such as Institute will bring together the amazing breadth of expertise across not just our Medical School but also the wider University. Both Ron and I were delighted with the interest and support evident during the discussion that followed his presentation. I am grateful to him for his leadership of this initiative.