The new position comes in wake of last April's announcement that University Hospitals would be downsizing. Then, last July, John Forsyth, the executive director of the Medical Center, and Giles Bole, Medical School dean, announced their resignations.
Earlier this week, Neal told the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs that "the hospital center is more oriented to making money and the (Medical School) dean is more committed to the academic mission." The differing interests between the two are the main motivation for creating the position. The new position should prevent bickering between the two entities. It also will give the Presidential Search Advisory Committee more leeway to select candidates for University president.
While the financial contribution of the hospital is important, the focus of the University's medical programs must remain on education, not on profits. The University is a school - not a business. The new executive position should be able to solve the differences between the hospitals and the school, and promote academics over financial gain.
The change is also significant because the committee can now focus solely on candidates with academic backgrounds, rather than those with administrative experience in the medical field. The committee is currently conducting a search to replace former University President James Duderstadt, who stepped down last June.
E. James Potchen, chair of radiology at Michigan State University, and M. David Low, also a medical doctor, were both approached about the University presidency - the first proof that medical administrative experience was a possible requirement for the new presidency. Regent Shirley McFee (R-Battle Creek), co-chair of the committee, said the new president should be an academic with business savvy. She also said that considering the Medical Center's massive downsizing, the new president should have "knowledge of health care facility management."
An unfortunate side effect of this qualification is that it limits the committee slightly. The committee should find candidates who would best serve the entire University community, not just the Medical Center. The new executive would eliminate the need for University presidential candidates to have medical backgrounds. The new president will not be overburdened with the Medical Center downsizing and could then focus his or her attention on broader interests.
The new position fills a hole in the framework that will give the medical departments of the University a common focus. The new office also will prevent the Medical Center reorganization from burdening the new president. The creation of the office is good for the University as a whole - the regents and Neal have wisely developed a creative solution to significant problems.