TUSM's Academic Programs Symposium

TUSM's Academic Programs Symposium on January 14th brought together faculty from affiliated hospitals, basic sciences, and public health in an animated and fruitful discussion on opportunities for increasing our program offerings, enriching our curriculum, and extending our outreach domestically and globally.

View the summary of proceedings for the symposium.

Harris Berman, Dean of the Tufts University School of Medicine

The charge was to brainstorm about academic initiatives that would fulfill a societal need or challenge, support existing strengths and priorities, utilize existing intellectual and physical resources, and generate revenue. In attendance were nearly 100 clinical, basic science and public health faculty as well as senior administrators. Faculty included representatives from Baystate Medical Center, Lahey Clinic, Maine Medical Center, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and Tufts Medical Center.

Prior to the retreat, faculty had been invited to offer ideas about potential initiatives; paragraphs summarizing these proposals were distributed prior to and at the meeting. Upon arriving, faculty members were assigned to 13 breakout groups of 8 participants, with a moderator, recorder and distance learning expert. During the breakouts, participants discussed ideas for programs, either expounding upon the prior ideas or discussing new ones.		Freeman T. Changamire, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine

John Griffith, Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine

The combined creative and intellectual talents of the groups generated forty-one programmatic ideas. Groups then focused in depth on one program, as decided by vote of all participants. The initiatives that generated the largest number of interest were: a Physician Assistant program, certificates in Health Communications, a Master of Medical Education, emergency/disaster preparedness programs, and exporting our medical education expertise.

Comments from the evaluation forms included: What a great idea - lots of ideas and energy! The interdisciplinary aspect was great! Very positive, energetic and imaginative. Very well done and organized program. It really demonstrates the passion and dedication of TUSM's faculty/staff.		Scott Epstein, Dean of Educational Affairs at the Tufts University School of Medicine