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 This
issue of Medicine at Michigan emphasizes our commitment to excellence
in teaching of medical students and house officers and mentoring
of Medical School faculty. A particularly effective initiative
is the Medical Education Scholars Program, which has enabled
12 faculty from diverse fields each year to develop innovative
projects and personal evaluative skills with guidance from faculty
and staff in the Department of Medical Education.
On the research side, we highlight stem cell research, as President
Bush did for the nation on August 9, 2001, which seems so long
ago now. From neuronal cell differentiation and organogenesis
to pediatrics, hematology, anesthesiology and oncology, prominent
U-M researchers are at the forefront of stem cell research.
Such research is embedded in our University-wide Life Sciences
Initiative, which will make the terms “genomics,”
“proteomics,” and “bioinformatics” familiar
to physicians and the public in the decade ahead.
In this context, I presented the winter commencement address
at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids on December
8, 2001, about life sciences developments in the state and at
the U-M. After recognizing the origins of Grand Valley State
University in the tumultuous 1960s, I used the 1968 movie The
Graduate as a touchstone for today. As you may recall, to Dustin
Hoffman’s question about what he should do with his life
came the answer, “plastics…the future is in plastics!”
Well, for the graduates of 2001, this speaker responded that
“the future is in genomics” — embracing scientific,
medical, and public health applications of new knowledge about
genes and proteins, and the social and ethical contexts.
In April we will break ground for the Biomedical Sciences Research
Building. Across Huron Street are the Life Sciences Institute
and its associated buildings, due to open in mid-2003. In the
meantime we are utilizing our present research space intensively,
thanks to the success of our faculty in markedly increasing
research grant support for their ideas and programs.
We have similarly bold plans for the expansion of our clinical
facilities — including ambulatory and major surgery suites,
clinics and support areas; the Cardiovascular Center; a replacement
children’s and women’s hospital; the Depression Center;
and expansion of the Kellogg Eye Center.
Our physicians, nurses and staff continue to enhance the quality
and patient-centeredness of clinical care, and our top-rated
M-CARE HMO has managed to stay ahead of the curve in dealing
with the challenging pressures from payors. No one knows what
the health care policy framework may be just a few years from
now — but it is most unlikely that the taxpayers and corporations
who pay for the vast majority of healthcare services will permit
the open-ended patient and physician choices that have emerged
from the broad attack on HMOs and “managed cost” (it
was hardly “managed care” most places). The pendulum
is likely to swing back to cost containment in the face of costly
new drugs, an aging population, and the need to cover the uninsured,
all raising expectations for our services.
On a personal note, I want to share with you my letter of December
17, 2001, to President Bollinger on the occasion of our joint
announcement that I will step down as executive vice president
of medical affairs at the end of July 2002.
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“Dear Lee—
As we have discussed, it is wise to take stock periodically
during one’s career and life. I am well into my fifth
year as the University’s first EVPMA, truly a full-immersion
role. You and I and our many colleagues have accomplished
essentially all of the major initiatives we laid out at
the start in 1997: enhancing the academic base in the
Medical School, creating the vision of the University
of Michigan Health System, assuring excellent financial
stewardship and creative leadership of the Hospitals and
Health Centers, M-CARE, and the Medical School, and greatly
strengthening ties with the rest of the campus, notably
through the many facets of your Life Sciences Initiative.
In addition, we have laid out a capital plan for research
and clinical buildings that will require much of this
decade to complete. I am confident that our successors
will sustain these efforts, including the progressive
rise in national standings of the Medical School, Hospitals,
and M-CARE.
It is time for me to plan an orderly return to my interests
in academic research and public policy, greatly enriched
by my experience as EVPMA and my continued involvement
in genetics and life sciences. I am keen to relate at
the scientific level, not just the administrative level,
with our fine faculty in these areas. And I welcome the
opportunity for a leave.
Meanwhile, however, I am eager to assist Interim President
Joe White over the next several months of transition for
the University by continuing as EVPMA until 31 July, as
we have agreed.
My best wishes to you and Jean as you move to New York
City.
Sincerely yours,
Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D.”
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I am focused on assisting Interim President White and positioning
the Health System, with my able colleagues, for the long-term.
To all of the alumni of the U-M Medical School and the much
larger community engaged in this splendid U-M Health System,
my thanks for your wonderful efforts on behalf of the School,
our patients, our students, our community and each other.
My wife, Martha Darling, and I have become deeply involved in
the Ann Arbor community and in affairs of the state of Michigan
and greatly enjoy these activities and the many associated friendships.
My best wishes to all of you.
Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D
U-M Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and CEO, U-M
Health System
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