Bloomberg School of Public Health
Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 25, 2002 | 3 p.m. | 859th Meeting

Members Absent: Drs. William Brody, Jonathan Links, Roger McMacken, Edward Miller and Alfred Sommer.

Guests: Drs. Douglas Hough and Sharon Krag; and Ms Diane Glover.

Meeting Convened: Provost Knapp convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. Approval of the Minutes: Minutes of the 858th meeting on March 21, 2002 were approved.

Remarks by the Provost

Provost Knapp reported that the searches for deans of the School of Nursing and of University Libraries are coming to closure.

The University's new $2 billion campaign will be launched in the next few weeks. A number of large gifts, including several to the BSPH, have already raised $700 million toward the goal. The emphasis of this campaign will be on increasing endowment, and on capital projects.

University-wide, the international situation does not appear to have affected student recruitment at this time, although the effect on obtaining visas by accepted international students is not yet known. The effect at the BSPH is not yet known.

Dr. Knapp encouraged all faculty to attend University Commencement on May 23. He will visit Nanjing to confer an honorary degree on the president of Nanjing University.

The PEW Foundation has established a Center for Genetics and Public Policy which will be part of the Johns Hopkins Bioethics Institute. The new Center will be located in Washington, D.C., near the Nitze Building of the School of Advanced International Studies.

Remarks by the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. Yager remarked that Dean Sommer is presently in Australia at a meeting of the International College of Ophthalmology. Dr. Yager then announced that Dean Sharon Krag will be awarded the Stebbins Medal at Convocation on May 22. The Stebbins Medal is awarded by the faculty for contributions to teaching programs. The Advisory Board congratulated Dr. Krag on this honor.

Dr. Yager announced that Dr. Ron Brookmeyer has been appointed by Dean Sommer to lead the MPH program. This change in leadership will become effective on June 1, when Dr. Brookmeyer will join the Advisory Board representing the program.

He further reported that one of the student groups in the School has shown several movies on campus that have raised concern by other students and faculty about a lack of balance in the presentations. There will be an examination of whether student groups should have more oversight by faculty or administrators, however the School wishes to continue enabling faculty, staff and students to share their views in an open manner. It is important to maintain this open environment while assuring and respecting diverse views.

Dr. Guyer announced that Dr. Ronald Gray will be installed as the first William G. Robertson Professor in the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences.

Remarks by the Faculty Senate

Dr. Rose reported that the topics discussed at the most recent Senate meeting included: increasing communication between the Senate and the faculty-at-large through the Faculty General Assembly; reports from the Committee in Information Technology and on the 2001-02 faculty salary analysis from Dr. Zeger; and a preliminary discussion of a subcommittee report on the balance between teaching, research and practice for the faculty.

Other items

Proposed MBA/MPH Program

Dr. Alexander introduced Dr. Douglas Hough of the School of Professional Studies in Business and Education (SPSBE). Dr. Hough directs the Business of Medicine program at SPSBE. The MPH Program Office and SPSBE have been working together to develop an MBA/MPH dual degree program. The program will enable public health students to gain training in business, and business professionals to become familiar with public health. The Committee on Academic Standards has reviewed and approved the proposal.

Graduates will fulfill the requirements of both degree programs. Dr. Alexander reported that students will be based at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and an agreement has been worked out between the two divisions for transfer of tuition funds. The program is approximately 2 years in length and initially only full-time students will be accepted.

Dr. Hough commented that the program is most likely to appeal to students planning a career in health who would like a business focus, rather than to business students who seek expertise in public health. Several other universities offer similar programs. The proposed program includes several tracks.

Several department chairs asked about the highly structured curriculum that leaves little time for electives because elective credits from one program are taken as required courses for the other program. One chair raised concern that graduates of the program will have little preparation in a content area of public health due to the structured nature of the curriculum. However, several MHS programs in the School are similarly structured. Faculty from the Department of Health Policy and Management were involved in the design of the proposed program, and Dr. Steinwachs is supportive of it. Dr. Steinwachs acknowledged that this dual degree program may be in competition with the MHS program in Health Finance and Management, but also may appeal to different audiences.

After further discussion, the proposal was tabled for the members of the Advisory Board to further review the materials provided, and address any questions to Dr. Alexander.

Proposed changes to Administration and Governance PPM on the Animal Care and Use Committee

Dr. Krag briefly reviewed the proposed changes to the PPM on Animal Care and Use, which had been reviewed by the Committee of the Whole. The changes are in response to the creation of one University-wide committee on animal care. Dr. Knapp noted that a new assistant provost position has been created who will have oversight of animal care issues and facilities across the University and will report to Dr. Poehler.

The Advisory Board voted to approve the changes to the Administration and Governance PPM on the Animal Care and Use Committee.

Proposed changes to Faculty PPM on Fraud in Research

Dr. Krag reviewed proposed changes in the Faculty PPM on Fraud in Research, and explained the rationale for the changes, which had been reviewed by the Committee of the Whole.

The Advisory Board voted to approve the changes in the Faculty PPM on Fraud in Research.

Proposed changes to Academic Programs PPM for PhD and ScD Programs

Dr. Krag commented that changes proposed in the PhD and ScD PPMs incorporate the recommendations of the Quality of Doctoral Education Committee that were adopted by the Committee of the Whole several years ago. Several questions were raised regarding the timing and continuity of the residency requirement for ScD students compared to that for PhD students. Dr. Krag will research these questions and will return to a Committee of the Whole meeting with further information.

The Advisory Board voted to approve the changes in the Academic Programs PPMs for the PhD and ScD programs.

Request for faculty in quality of medical care area

Dr. Steinwachs reviewed a request by the Department of Health Policy and Management for an increase in the number of tenure-track faculty in the area of "quality of care." The request for one position in this area previously had been reviewed, but during the course of the search, 2 superior candidates have emerged. Both candidates would become assistant professors. The Advisory Board was supportive of Dr. Steinwachs' request.

Death of Dr. David Nagey

The Advisory Board expressed its sadness over the sudden death of Dr. David Nagey, director of perinatal outreach in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology who held a joint appointment in the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences. Dr. Nagey was a leader in maternal and fetal health and medicine.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fox

© 2002 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland. All rights reserved.
Last updated 05Jun02 by dgips@jhu.edu