Einstein Senate

Council Meeting: Wednesday, November 18, 2020

ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE 
MINUTES OF SENATE COUNCIL MEETING 

WED NOV 18, 2020 

FINAL

PRESENT: Drs. Gordon Tomaselli, Jonathan Lai, Myles Akabas, Nerys Benfield, Anne Bresnick, Robbie Burk, Jill Crandall, Johanna Daily, Matthew Gamble, Elizabeth Kitsis, Susan Klugman, Courtney Niland, Victor Schuster, Pamela Stanley, Ed Burns, Allison Ludwig,; Mr. Ryan Graff, Ms. Shelly Motzkin.

ABSENT: Drs. Jonathan Alpert, Anita Autry-Dixon, Chandan Guha, Tanya Johns

EXCUSED: Dr. Julia Arnsten 

 

  1. Meeting minutes from the Nov 4, 2020 Senate Council were approved.
  2. Dr. Lai provided an update of the Senate Office selections, and election of the 2021 Senate Council procedures.
  3. The increasing city-wide coronavirus infection positivity rate was discussed, and its potential impact on Einstein/Montefiore. There is the possibility that operations will need to be scaled back, and campus occupancy limits reduced if positivity rates continue to climb. However, hopefully a total campus shutdown can be avoided. At present, the Montefiore hospital ICU bed capacity is not overwhelmed, although this could change depending on overall infection rates.
  4. The potential for on-campus and random coronavirus testing was discussed. The logistical challenges to implementing broad testing at Einstein were also discussed. Dr. Lai to consult with Infectious Disease and Clinical Testing leaders on this, then report back to Senate Council.
  5. The on-going Strategic Management planning process at Montefiore was discussed. The McKinsey report concluded that Einstein overall is fairly financially lean, although there may be some areas where costs could be saved. Dr. Tomaselli emphasized that an increase in revenue would be required in addition to cost savings, and thus there are on-going philanthropic efforts. Dr. Tomaselli also expressed support for maintaining the size of the graduate program as much as possible, as this is a key requirement for research operations. 

The meeting adjourned at 3:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 
Jonathan Lai, Ph.D. 
Vice Speaker, Einstein Senate