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STATE OF THE SCHOOL HMS Dean Marks Five Years of ProgressIn his fifth annual State of the School address on Sept. 26, Dean Joseph Martin summed up the School's progress toward the four top priorities he set after arriving in 1997: strengthening basic science research, establishing closer bonds with the teaching hospitals, re-invigorating educational programs, and increasing diversity among the faculty, students, and staff.
HMS dean Joseph Martin challenged his audience to imagine how the School might contribute to the next major scientific milestone. (Photo by Steve Gilbert) Martin described the opportunities presented by new collaborations within the Harvard medical community and by the vast increase in research space with next year's opening of the New Research Building. He invited the audience to imagine how the community can contribute to biomedicine's second major milestone of the 21st century following the final mapping of the human genome--whatever that next accomplishment turns out to be. He listed major strides the School has made to fortify its research programs and boost collaboration: Eight new initiatives are under way, including interinstitutional efforts such as the Dana- Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard Center for Neurodegeneration and Repair. HMS has received several major federal awards, among them a $44 million contract for the new Molecular Target Laboratory and a $15 million Department of Energy grant for environmental and energy uses of microbes. New Faces"We've made a number of stellar recruits," he continued. "We've appointed three new department chairs. We will have 130,000 square feet of space available for Quad recruits and for new program initiatives, and we have approval for a new Dental School research building."Martin welcomed several individuals who are new to the School or are taking on new roles: Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology chair Edward Harlow will oversee "big picture planning functions" in the newly created position of dean for research. Gary Thompson has been hired as associate dean for research compliance and Deborah Kuhn as associate dean for planning and facilities. Joan Reede has been promoted to the new position of dean for diversity and community partnership. Among notable faculty moves, Stephen Harrison will bring his lab from Harvard University in Cambridge to the Quad to develop a major new initiative in structural biology. And health economist Thomas McGuire joined the Department of Health Care Policy. Healing Medical EducationA key development in the medical education arena has been the creation of the Academy at Harvard Medical School, Martin said. The Academy now numbers 141 members ranging from students to full professors, has already funded more than 50 projects, and sponsors two fellowship programs for junior faculty.In addition, he said, "two 'blue sky' committees have worked over the last year to look very seriously at our medical education program." While the committees found much to praise, they also identified problems demanding attention, including lack of faculty time to teach and to mentor, marginalization of students in the clinical setting, and a dearth of opportunity for students to observe the natural progression of disease. Turning to diversity, Martin said HMS continues its excellent recent track record for attracting diverse students but has made scant progress toward increasing faculty diversity, particularly at the senior level. A September meeting with major hospital CEOs focused on mounting a high-level effort to recruit senior faculty from underrepresented minorities. Martin predicted that "the spirit of that meeting will create a synergy that will lead us to some major new efforts" to improve diversity. |
