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Number 5

Rounds With Ray

Dr. Ray Greenberg

At the meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees last week, I had the opportunity to present a summary of accomplishments for the past year. We are all too aware of the many challenges that we face as an institution each day. At the same time, it is important to remember the remarkable successes that have been achieved. It is my pleasure, therefore, to share the following List of Accomplishments with you:

List of Accomplishments
Education

  • College of Dental Medicine graduates finished 5th highest among 54 dental schools in performance on national boards.
  • The Nurse Midwifery Program was ranked among the top 10 nationally by U.S. News and World Report.
  • In the College of Health Professions, the Occupational Therapy program was ranked in the top 10 percent nationally and the Physical Therapy program was ranked in the top 20 percent nationally by U.S. News and World Report.
  • New degree programs were approved in clinical research and in Bioinformatics.
  • The General Assembly awarded an initial $6.3 million toward the construction of the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine and a private fund-raising campaign was initiated successfully.


Research

  • A record $113 million in outside research funding was received.
  • The College of Health Professions ranked 16th nationally among allied health schools in NIH funding.
  • The College of Nursing ranked in the top 5 percent of nursing schools in NIH funding.
  • Approval was obtained to proceed with the construction of a Children’s Research Institute, with public funding secured and a private fund-raising campaign initiated successfully.
  • The General Assembly approved the establishment of a funding source to support research on spinal cord injuries.


Clinical Services

  • The Digestive Diseases Center was ranked 26th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
  • The Medical Center was named a Customer Choice Award Winner by the national Research Corporation for overall quality and image.
  • The hospital authority legislation was approved and all of the steps toward implementation of the authority were completed successfully.
  • The proportion of tobacco settlement funds dedicated to health care was raised, including increased Medicaid base rates for hospital services.
  • A medical billing suit was successfully resolved with the federal government.
  • The General Assembly approved funding for a hypertension initiative and a maxillofacial prosthodontics clinic.


Universitywide

  • The transitions in the office of the president and other key administrative positions were completed successfully.
  • Private fund raising was 18 percent higher than the previous record year.
As we look to the year ahead, we are setting an equally challenging agenda. We have established the following List of Priorities as goals for the coming year:

List of Priorities
Education

  • Successfully complete the accreditation review by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education.
  • Implement M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Bioinformatics.
  • Obtain approval for Ph.D. in Nursing.
  • Successfully complete the accreditation review by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.


Research

  • Formalize cooperative research linkages to Clemson and the University of South Carolina.
  • Initiate construction of the Children’s Research Institute and the Hollings Cancer Center addition.
  • Increase extramural awards for research and sponsored programs to $125 million.
  • Intensify research efforts in the strategic aims of Neurobiology and Structural Biology.
  • Prepare and complete successful renegotiations of University’s Indirect Cost Rate agreement with federal agencies.


Clinical Services

  • Implement the new authority governance model.
  • Focus on maximizing operational efficiencies in order to address ongoing financial pressures.
  • Work with other South Carolina hospitals and health care organizations to form an alliance to solve the continuing health care funding crisis that exists in South Carolina.
  • Update 1998 Clinical Enterprise Strategic Plan to include a focused examination of facilities planning issues.
  • Successfully prepare for the implementation of Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs) and related impact upon billing processes.
  • Successfully complete the 2000 accreditation review by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.


Universitywide

  • Secure a balanced budget for the university.
  • Recruit new Vice President for Administration and Finance, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the College of Medicine, Associate Provost for Research, and Director of Science for the Hollings Cancer Center.
  • Raise $30,046,000 in new philanthropic gifts and pledges as well as $10,940,000 in new planned gifts.
  • Implement formal capital campaign plans for the Children's Research Institute and the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Building.
  • Increase total market value of the Health Sciences Foundation assets to $160,000,000 and endowments to $80,000,000.


I am very confident that the Medical University is capable of meeting this ambitious agenda.  Through the dedicated efforts of our faculty and staff, we can work together to make this university the rival of any in the country. I look forward to working with you to help accomplish that aspiration.