At the first campus health-initiative meeting May 29, leaders presented an organizational model that would establish UC Davis as "the foremost institution in interdisciplinary health-related research."
At the first campus health-initiative meeting May 29, leaders presented an organizational model that would establish UC Davis as "the foremost institution in interdisciplinary health-related research."
The meeting was the last of three to begin planning how UC Davis can position itself as a national leader in the fields of the environment, globalization and health. The initiatives are an outgrowth of Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef's fall 1995 conference.
At the gathering of 50 interested persons, the health initiative's executive committee members recommended that the campus create an Institute for Advanced Health Studies responsible for:
* Inventorying UC Davis resources and research initiatives involving health;
* Seeking research opportunities that match the skills and expertise here;
* Coalescing faculty and staff members from various areas as opportunities are identified;
* Identifying curricular and educational opportunities; and
* Establishing interactive outreach with the public.
The committee also believes the chancellor should fund initial start-up costs for the institute and an executive director, said committee member Frank Loge, director of hospital and clinics.
The administration was also asked to develop "strong financial incentives that encourage ongoing participation" in the institute, Loge said.
While the meeting focused on the organization of a health initiative, some research areas were also presented. Potential categories might include the reduction of chronic disease and injury, special health concerns of minorities and women, critical core basic research (with a focus on animal models) and the measurement of health-care outcomes and the impact of health reform.
The proposed organization should be seen as a "faculty institution" so that faculty can have major input into the initiative, said executive committee member Judith Stern, a professor of nutrition.
Another committee member, Marc Schenker, division chief of occupational and environmental medicine and epidemiology, said the four focus areas also could be viewed at the molecular (basic science), individual (clinical), population (preventive medicine) and organizational (health-care delivery) levels.
Various multidisciplinary campus strengths identified at the meeting included Native American health, agricultural health and safety, children's health, nutrition and obesity.
The idea behind the institute is to offer an extremely inclusive method for diverse faculty to communicate, said medical school dean Jerry Lazarus and veterinary medicine dean Fred Murphy.
Hibbard Williams, a former medical school dean, wondered if the structure of an institution could meet that goal.
"I'm not sure you've spelled out the reason for the institute," he said, adding that he is concerned about creating broad inclusive categories and conflicts between the existing health programs at UC Davis and this new institute.
Loge said maybe the "institute" should be changed to a "coalition" to better reflect the intent of the initiative.
Inclusivity will be important as the campus seeks to gather faculty members into various affinity groups, said Harvey Himelfarb, special assistant to the provost.
The campus also needs to market itself, said Loge and Stern. Himelfarb added another observation to the discussion about marketing.
"We have a first-rate faculty but we're not organized to respond immediately--to take advantage of the opportunities," he said.
Barbara Schneeman, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and a professor of nutrition, noted that teaching and outreach should be highlighted more in the discussion of the health initiative.
She suggested that faculty could bring what they discover as a team into the classroom.
