PRESENT: Dr. Allen Spiegel, Drs. Robert Burk, Brian Cohen, Barbara Birshtein, Anne Etgen, Ruth Freeman, Richard Hays, Mark Mehler, Jeffrey Segall, Janet Townsend, Karen Weidenheim

EXCUSED: Dr. Edward Burns

ABSENT: Drs. Spencer Foreman, Susan Horwitz, David Shulkin, Miriam Smith, Mr. Howard Forman, Mr. William Walsh

The minutes of the previous meeting held on September 5, 2007 were reviewed. Minor changes were made by the Dean and approved by members of the Council.

Dean Spiegel noted that representatives of AECOM affiliates, i.e., Montefiore Medical Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, Jacobi Medical Center and Long Island Jewish, are invited guests to the Senate Council. Generally, however, they are not present at these meetings. The Dean also noted that the bulk of the agenda items do not impact these institutions or their faculty. Furthermore, the Dean interacts with the affiliates at various other fora including the Division of Education and various leadership meetings. Michael Reichgott is the Associate Dean of Affiliates of the medical school and has regular interactions with these institutions.

The Committee on Appointments and Promotions at the Associate Professor level was reviewed. The chair and co-chair and current members serving a second term plus members returning for a third year were noted. In addition, all the proposed new members for a two-year term were approved. Members who have completed their term of service were recognized and the Council thanked them for their efforts over the past few years of their participation.

Dean Spiegel stated that the new Director of the Diabetes Center, Dr. Jeffrey Pessin, had just recently been approved for tenure by the Yeshiva University board. He will therefore join the group at the faculty convocation to be held on October 9, 2007 and will be recognized for his tenure and new appointment to the endowed chair of this center.

At the end of the last Faculty Senate meeting two weeks ago on September 5, 2007, the Dean was approached by the Association of Post-Doctorates at AECOM. They have forwarded a signed proposal to the Dean suggesting that the administration consider creating a Dean of Post-Doctorate Researchers. The Dean stated that the Senate Council should take this very seriously and the various issues in the proposal be addressed. Further discussion will be held and directors and departmental and division directors involved with training grants would be involved as these post-doctoral activities often require mentoring.

The next Faculty Senate meeting will be held on October 24, 2007.

The November Faculty Senate meeting has been cancelled. The Faculty Senate meeting for December will be held on December 5, 2007. The various scheduling conflicts have necessitated the above changes to the Faculty Senate meetings.

Dr. Allen Spiegel raised issues concerning security at AECOM. This was in response to Dr. Weidenheim’s concern that there had been a series of burglaries in various sites around the medical school campus. There have been reports of lapses in ID checks at the various entrances to the medical school and there have been a number of reported laptop thefts. The current security status will be addressed by the administration but suggestions to improve ID security were also discussed. These included a consideration for CCTV cameras and to emphasize for people to take proactive measures by locking their valuables in drawers in desks in their offices.

Dr. Burk raised the issue of conference rooms for internal seminars. He noted that there is a shortage of space and that some of the conference rooms were found to be too small for the attendees. The new Price Center has a conference facility with a capacity to hold 107 people. This will add to the overall availability of conference facilities. The Dean noted that a systematic listing of venues with seating capacity availability should be drawn up by the administration.

Dr. Richard Hays raised the issue of the medical school class size. The Dean stated that the AAMC has advocated expansion of existing medical schools and the creation of new medical schools. At AECOM, there is currently no consideration for increasing the class size.

The meeting ended at 4 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian L. Cohen, MD

Vice Speaker, Faculty Senate

Last updated October 26, 2007