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Raymond steps in as interim provost, VP by Cindy Abole Public Relations On July 1, John Raymond, M.D., associate provost for research, assumed the position of interim provost and vice president for academic affairs replacing Rosalie Crouch, Ph.D., who stepped down to return to full-time research.Raymond has been tasked to handle university research, student activities and academics, plus faculty-related issues. Raymond joined MUSC in 1996 assuming an endowed professorship for research with the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine. He has a longstanding appointment at the VA Medical Center, and was formerly associate chief of staff for research since 1999. Last fall, he was selected as associate provost for research and is an active researcher in signal transduction. His clinical focus includes severe hypertension management and renal damage relating to diabetes. “Dr. Crouch has done a terrific job,” Raymond said. “She’s devoted an enormous amount of energy to our research and education initiatives here. We’re all very grateful for that. It will be difficult for us to find someone who is as accomplished a scientist and administrator as she is.” Crouch, who has served 12 years in MUSC administration, was the campus’ number two person for the past three years upon the selection of her predecessor MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., in fall 1999. She will return to her role as professor in the Department of Ophthalmology. During the interim, Raymond will manage and initiate an array of key issues that will maintain or benefit the institution. For the most part, he would like to continue building faculty participation through mentorship and programs, especially in the area of research. Raymond would like to see MUSC involved in larger collaborative projects that could encourage and reward individuals for their efforts, while building and maintaining programs. “The university’s role is to provide an environment that facilitates the natural evolution of science and collaboration,” Raymond said. “We need to provide the resources and infrastructure to allow people to plan, meet and contribute to the needs of South Carolina’s citizens.”  A prime example of collaboration in progress is MUSC’s Marine Biology Program under the leadership of Eric Lacy, Ph.D. It provides opportunities for scientists to conduct innovative research and education. Other examples include a structural biology initiative, tissue engineering and biological imaging. Within the last few years, Raymond successfully organized a pilot program within the Department of Medicine that paired senior faculty with junior faculty in a mentoring role. Participants would take a more active role in review of  papers, grants materials and in some cases, participate in some research activities. During that time, all eight of the program’s participants netted a major federal career development award equal to paying for a faculty member’s salary. Raymond would like to extend this program across campus hopefully engaging all faculty beyond the research and education tracks. And he does not want to end here. He is encouraging more faculty participation when it comes to major decision-making issues related to the university. He hopes faculty will work together to address research, education and other clinically-relevant issues for the state. Another need is for the institution to create a space allocation policy pertaining to research. For researchers, this is invaluable. It would offer guidelines dictating parameters for the setup and assignment of lab space. Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Assessment Tom Higerd, Ph.D., has created a new database that would calculate and evaluate the costs per square foot for space with a grants and contracts database for comparisons with other university sites. An extension to this is a proposal to develop an infrastructure fund and strategy that supports basic maintenance needs and upgrades for research facilities. Just recently the state has approved to set aside $30 million in lottery dollars for endowed chairs at South Carolina’s leading research universities. The school  is currently collaborating with faculty and officials to define specific needs for an endowed chair program as an opportunity to enhance research and educational activities.  “We need to give the credit to both Dr. Greenberg and Dr. Ken Roozen for playing a key role in endorsing and promoting the plan,” Raymond said. “They were the architects of this plan traveling statewide to promote the needs of higher education in this state.” Finally, in anticipation for the expansion and construction project for both the Hollings Cancer Center and the Children’s Research Institute, Raymond wants to prepare for the significant addition of more than 120,000 sq. ft. of lab space by creating and implementing helpful programs to aid recruiting talented researchers and investigators, plus the coordination of transitional services. As for student issues, Raymond strives to keep the lines of communications open as did his predecessors, Crouch and Greenberg. With tuition hikes and other issues certainly on the horizon, Raymond would like students to know that they have access to the administration and know that they are willing to listen to them regarding their concerns.  “I’m looking forward to working with Dr. (Valerie) West,” Raymond said. West is the interim dean of student affairs. “She’s a real asset to the institution and a true national expert in the educational process. She is very well-suited for the job.”  Although he is not involved in the search committee for a permanent provost, Raymond is optimistic of its outcome.  “I have every confidence that we’ll be able to attract a world-class individual to this position because of our many opportunities here,” Raymond said. “We have talent that’s more than a match for our current challenges. We have tremendous opportunities here to continue to do some very exceptional things.”