The official minutes of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees are maintained by the Secretary of the Board. Certified copies of minutes may be requested by contacting the Board of Trustees’ Office. Electronic or other copies of original minutes are not official Board of Trustees' documents.
The Health Affairs Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met on Thursday, March 22, 2001, at 9:38 a.m. in the Board Room of the Carolina Plaza.
Members present were: Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II, Chairman; Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller; Mr. Robert N. McLellan; Mr. J. DuPre Miller; Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.; Mr. Othniel H. Wienges, Jr.; and Mr. Herbert C. Adams, Board Vice Chairman. Mr. A. C. Fennell, III and Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Board Chairman were absent. Trustees James Bradley and Darla D. Moore were also present.
Others present were: President John M. Palms; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer J. Lyles Glenn; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education Chris P. Plyler; Chancellor of USC Aiken Thomas L. Hallman; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine Larry R. Faulkner; Dean of The Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health Harris Pastides; Dean of the College of Nursing Mary Ann Parsons; Dean of the College of Pharmacy Farid Sadik; Associate Dean for Clinical Research and Special Projects, School of Medicine, Stanley D. Fowler; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, USC Aiken, Blanche Premo-Hopkins; and Director of Public Affairs Russell McKinney.
Chairman Foster called the meeting to order and welcomed those present inviting them to introduce themselves. Mr. McKinney stated that no members of the media were present. Chairman Foster stated that the agenda had been posted and the press had been notified as required by the Freedom of Information Act; the agenda had been circulated to the Committee members; and a quorum was present to conduct business.
Mr. Foster recognized Dr. Palms who stated that the Legislature was in the process of debating a bill concerning the state's two medical schools and the possibility of closing the USC Medical School. He advised everyone to be well informed about the school's progress. Dr. Palms invited Dr. Faulkner and Dr. Fowler to begin their presentation.
The USC School of Medicine (SOM) faced a dilemma when competing for federal research grants. One solution to this problem was to establish Centers of Research Excellence (COREs) which would partner with affiliated hospitals, involve other USC schools, and focus on specific areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke, geriatrics, and other areas. Cancer research was the first CORE which had been developed.
In 1993, the SCCC was created in a formal research partnership between USC and Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital (PRMH). The SOM and PRMH had provided financial support over a four-year period in the form of grants, awards, etc. Through this partnership, the hospital had created research laboratories, developed major programs, provided salaries for cancer research staff, and built the cancer hospital. Dr. Fowler displayed a graph which indicated the growth of research activities and the resulting federal funding for the University. The effectiveness of the SCCC was noted with regard to the impact on various academic units, particularly the expansion of population-based research at the School of Public Health.
Dr. Fowler noted that Palmetto Health Alliance (PHA), a major fund provider of the program, had experienced significant financial problems as a result of the merger of Richland Memorial Hospital with the Baptist Hospital; as a consequence, the Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Program had been closed. Various strategies for a recovery plan had been discussed which would strengthen the partnership between PHA and USC. A nine-member Steering Committee for the SCCC had been formed. Strategies for 2001 included the development of a Clinical Research and Experimental Therapeutics Program and the strengthening of translational research.
In conclusion, Dr. Fowler stated that the SCCC was positioned to grow and was an important program to pursue federal funding, provide an effective mechanism for recruitment of new faculty, and support the Midlands community.
Dr. Fowler responded to questions from members of the Committee regarding specific research discoveries at the Center, as well as basic versus applied research.
Questions had been raised concerning the number of physicians and the effectiveness and efficiency of the medical education system, as well as the number of state-supported medical schools in South Carolina. Education issues were addressed regarding South Carolina physicians. The Deans' Committee Study revealed that South Carolina currently had fewer medical students and residents as well as physicians per capita than the average for states not only in the Southeastern Region, but also the entire United States. Most of the counties in South Carolina were medically under-served and were experiencing shortages of health care professionals, including primary care physicians. According to the Study, if the medical education programs in South Carolina maintained their current size, the total number of physicians in the state by 2005 would be appropriate; however, there would be inadequate numbers of primary care physicians, too many specialists, and an uneven distribution of physicians by geographic area and population. The size of the Medical Student Education system was appropriate and the Graduate Medical Education system indicated that the appropriate specialty mix existed. Dr. Faulkner noted that South Carolina did not have major problems in structure, function, and organization of the medical education system compared to other areas of the country.
Dr. Faulkner highlighted the history, mission, and major educational facilities of the School of Medicine (SOM). Since 1974, the USC SOM had received $350,000 in State Capital Improvement Bond Funds and was the least supported academic unit in the state. A chart delineating SOM faculty compared to other institutions was presented, as well as budgetary items. Previous studies by the Association of American Medical Colleges had estimated the cost of educating medical students to be between $50,000 and $100,000 per student per year. In 1996, the USC SOM was the lowest formula-funded unit of any academic program in South Carolina; $38,400 was received in state funds per student per year. Practice plan revenues and other sources provided the difference. Dr. Faulkner noted a list of objectives which included responding to the needs of South Carolina, admitting qualified students throughout the state, graduating qualified physicians, preparing students for primary care practice and practice in South Carolina, providing service to state health care institutions and their patients, and conducting research pertinent to South Carolina's needs. Progress toward each of the objectives was highlighted.
Dr. Faulkner stated that the USC SOM had been established as a community-based institution with a mission of addressing the needs of South Carolina and specific educational, research, and service objectives. This mission had been fulfilled in a cost-efficient manner. Dr. Faulkner concluded by saying that South Carolina did not have too many medical students, residents, or physicians; the medical education system appeared to be educating an adequate number and type of physicians; and the SOM had been an effective and efficient contributor to South Carolina's medical education, research, and health care systems.
Discussion ensued from members of the Committee pertaining to the retention of students in the residency planning program, the recent bill concerning the closure of the SOM within five years, and primary health care centers in rural areas.
There were no other matters to come before the Committee, and Chairman Foster declared the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary