2023 SOM Town Hall Meeting
On August 16, 2023, Dr. Loretta Jackson-Williams, Vice Dean for Medical Education, hosted a town hall meeting, virtually, for School of Medicine (SOM) faculty and staff. She provided an overview of the 2022-23 academic year and focus areas for this academic year.
The SOM has five administrative offices, Admissions, Student Affairs, Medical Education, Graduate Medical Education, and Faculty Affairs. The last academic year brought several accomplishments for our administrative offices.
2022-23 Accomplishments
The Office of Admissions’ accomplishments include: robust pre- and post-application counseling process with another robust group of early decision applicant this cycle; engagement of college premed/prehealth counselors/advisors; training for all faculty, staff, and students on committees; management of PROMISE; co-management of outreach programs; and sponsorship of summer program for middle school students with current student engagement. Admissions also resumed in-person visits to colleges; and finalized the revamped shadowing program for college students interested in pursuing medicine.
The Office of Student Affairs implemented the student Financial Wellness Program and implemented the revised Career Development program while continuing all student support programs.
The Office of Medical Education completed an accreditation follow-report, finalized the redesigned integrated M1 curriculum, and continued enhancements to the curriculum for rural medicine and secured education administrative support in collaboration with IMPACT the RACE (ItR). Other ItR accomplishments include co-management of outreach programs, processing of student stipends for rural rotations, scholarship management, academic support, data management, spring Rural Medicine Education Symposium, and infrastructure upgrades.
Graduate Medical Education completed office renovations, promoted professionalism culture, and managed the changing residency application environment.
The Office of Faculty Affairs conducted a critical review of results of the StandPointTM Survey and supported leadership searches and new leaders.
2023-24 Focus Areas
Focus areas for 2023-24 include the development of a database for participants in the outreach programs and a database for prospective medical students in the Office of Admissions; and conducing summer sessions for incoming M1 students, innovating and standardizing student events, restarting the residency fair, and explicitly defining the expectations of professionalism for students through the Office of Student Affairs. OME’s focus includes completing an accreditation follow-up report, implementation of the redesigned M1 curriculum, and completing the design of the redesigned M2 curriculum. The Office of Faculty Affairs is implementing Faculty Appreciation Week this year and planning a faculty database.
As we consider the opportunities of 2023-24, we are also presented with challenges. Those challenges are preparing for the implementation of the redesigned M2 curriculum, continued changes to the residency application process, physician compensation plan impact, chair searches, and fundraising for the educational programs. Dr. Jackson-Williams closed with a reminder that we are stronger together; your continued engagement will ensure we meet these challenges.