Bloomberg School of Public Health
Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 15, 2003 | 3:00 p.m. | 872nd Meeting

Members Absent: Dr. William Brody, Martha Hill, Jonathan Links, Edward Miller, Noel Rose, and Jonathan Samet.

Guests: Dr. Cheryl Alexander and Ms Diane Glover.

Meeting Convened: Provost Steven Knapp convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m.

Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 871st meeting on April 24, 2003 were approved.

Remarks by the Provost

Dr. Knapp updated the Advisory Board on the present status of Sellinger Program funds. He was cautiously optimistic about the scope of the cuts, noting that there will be significant cuts, but that the University has tried to budget prudently to account for them.

Threats of terrorism and SARS continue to challenge the University. Dr. Knapp commented that the decision to close the Hopkins-Nanjing campus before the end of the semester was timely as cases of SARS were reported in Nanjing within days of the decision. The longer term effect on the Hopkins Nanjing program is presently unknown, but the University will explore creative options to retain the program. SARS also poses a challenge for Hopkins students who are from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Dr. Knapp commented that the University must develop an umbrella group that will gather information, formulate, and coordinate University policies on bioterrorism, mass casualties, SARS, and other visible and important issues in a consistent manner, and monitor those policies. He commented that University policies developed should be broad enough to allow for varying implementation by the divisions. He noted that the Board of Trustees would like Hopkins to continue its engagement in international activities. In response to a question, Dr. Knapp commented that the University has avoided forced cancellation of international trips and activities, and relies on the expertise and responsibility of those who are most familiar with geographic areas and issues to use their best judgement.

Remarks by the Dean

Dean Sommer's remarks were deferred to the end of the meeting.

Remarks by the Faculty Senate

Dr. Wiener reported that the Faculty Senate held a productive discussion about improving faculty mentoring. Dr. Kasper and Ms Fox will outline a faculty mentoring program based in part on the suggestions of the Senate.

Dr. Helzlsouer's committee on the faculty's balance of effort has met. Dr. Weiner reported that Dr. Caballero is heading a new committee of the Senate on titles and responsibilities of the non-tenure-track faculty. Dr. Wiener will become president of the Faculty Senate over the summer, and Drs. Marie Diener-West and Lynn Goldman are candidates for the position of president-elect of the Senate in 2003-2004.

Other items

Policy for Interdivisional Degrees

This discussion was postponed to a later date.

Review of Information from the 2002 Graduating Student Exit Survey

Ms Fox presented selected information from the 2002 Graduating Student Exit Survey. Several members of the Advisory Board suggested alternate questions for the survey, or alternate interpretation of the present information. The survey examines the views of graduating students, their immediate career plans and may be useful for student recruitment and retention in the next few years. Equally important is to conduct periodic surveys of alumni several years following graduation to evaluate whether the skills needed by our graduates during their career development were provided. The vast majority of our graduates do not enter traditional public health careers in state and local health departments, and the exit survey is helpful in demonstrating where our graduates start or continue their careers.

Ms Fox noted that the 2003 Graduating Student Exit Survey is presently in progress, and has been simplified and shortened compared to previous years. Program-specific information has been included, and will be provided to the individual programs.

Announcements by the Dean

In response to an initiative that will be undertaken by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations, Dean Sommer asked the members of the Advisory Board to identify the major innovative challenges and large research questions in global health. This information will be provided to the Gates Foundation, who may develop a series of funding opportunities to address these questions.

Dr. Sommer noted that three working groups were developed as a result of the April 22, 2003 retreat. Two vaccine working groups (on biology, headed by Dr. Black, and on behavior and policy, headed by Drs. Guyer and Frick) and a laboratory science group (headed by Drs. Groopman and Griffin) were initiated. A positive discussion about faculty mentoring also took place at the retreat and is being followed up on by the Committee on Affirmative Action.

Dr. Sommer commented on a dinner among the deans of the School of Public Health and Medicine to explore potential areas of synergy across the two Schools. The School of medicine expressed interest in developing a selective MD/MPH program that would improve the capacity for clinical and systems decision-making.

The Welch Center will undergo a review by the Schools of Public Health and Medicine and has been asked to undertake a self study in anticipation of the review. Dr. Neil Powe is enthusiastic about the evaluation.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fox

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Last updated 23Jul03 by dgips@jhu.edu