Minutes

The minutes were approved as read/as amended.

Announcements

Dr. Williams thanked the committee for being so prompt.

He stated that Norma Wagoner, PhD from Colorado conducted our Mock Site visit on November 15th.  Overall the visit was extremely positive.  She was very impressed with our Briefing Book.  Dr Wagoner gave us high marks in all areas with the exception of our lack of success to date in recruiting a new

Dr. Williams’ reviewed a Power Point presentation that the Dean asked him to prepare for the last Chairs meeting.  The presentation highlighted our progress since the last visit and items that would probably come up for discussion during the visit. He asked that the committee members review the LCME briefing book before the visit. This announcement generated much discussion which included some of the following comments:

Dr. Stern inquired about centralized curriculum.  Dr. Williams said the controlling decisions are made by the Curriculum Committee and reflected in the minutes which have been on the Web for many years.

Dr. Halperin asked about the LCME concerns re psychological counseling.  Dr.  Williams reported that the HSC has entered into a contract with the Counseling Center on Main Campus which has hired a psychologist, Talyah Unger, to service this part of campus.

The LCME site team will meet with Dr. Edelman and Shirley Kenny at the end of their visit on Tuesday, December 14th to discuss their preliminary findings.  They will write their report and present it formerly to the LCME.  Due to the timing of the LCME meetings, we will not get their actual decision until May or June.

Dr. Stern will send Dr. Williams data he has compiled, of decisions made by the Curriculum Committee, when he was the Chairman.  Dr. Williams will send this to the committee.

SubCommittee Reports

1. Directors of Didactic Courses                          R. Steigbigel

Minutes of the Didactic Meeting were distributed by

e-mail.

2. Directors of Clinical Courses                            D. Tompkins

Minutes of the Clinical Meeting were distributed by e-mail

3. Objectives & Assessment                               J. Chaves

Minutes of the Objectives & Assessment Meeting were distributed by e-mail.  The Committee is in the final stages.

4. Examination Policy & Practice                        F. Miller

Minutes of the Examination Policy & Practice Meeting were distributed by e-mail. Dr. Miller referred to the motion made and approved at the 11/4/04 meeting: In order to add uniformity to the grading system of objective examinations given at the School of Medicine, we will adopt the following practice….

(Please refer to Exam Policy & Practice Minutes from 11/4/04).  Dr. Steigbigel stated that this item should be discussed the next Didactic Committee Meeting and then presented to the Curriculum Committee. 

Tabled until the January meeting.

Approved

Approved

Motion: Dr. Halperin made a motion to refer this to the Didactic Committee and then have it presented to the Curriculum Committee in January.  

Approved

Course Evaluations

MICROBIOLOGY REVIEW – Dr. Benach   Reviewers: Dr. Sussman & Dr. Sedler

Dr. Williams asked committee members to address questions or comments on the Microbiology review.

According to students’ comments, parasitology was one weakness in this course. Dr. Eisenberg said that Pharmacology teaches this area and that it could possibly add better context.  Dr. Benach said that the faculty member who is currently teaching parasitology is doing a very good job.  Dr. Mylona suggested adding some questions on parasitology in lectures in order to get students’ attention. Jennifer Ripton (Class Rep) heard from fellow students that too much stress was placed on this subject, for the amount that is on the boards.  Dr Steigbigel mentioned hiring a parasitologist here at Stony Brook some time in the future, and if that is not possible, that we should work on plugging gaps. Dr. Williams said we should work with one of our faculty capable of teaching parasitology in Microbiology, but if that is not possible, there are funds available to hire someone from the outside.

Dr. Williams said that the course has received very good reviews, which are stated in the report, and thanked Dr. Benach for working very hard on making this a better course.  It was well liked and received.  Dr. Cameron asked about the second suggestion in the report pertaining to front loading.  Dr. Benach stated that there were holidays in the first half of the course which made the second half seemed longer.  He does not know if it is possible to make any changes in this case.    Dr. Schiavone asked if the syllabus contained parasitology and that maybe it could be more case-based instead of lecture.  Dr. Sussman said the Clinical correlates were exemplary.  Dr. Williams thanked Dr. Benach for running a fabulous course, and also thanked Dr. Sussman and Dr. Sedler (absent) for their review.

Background on Simulated Patients – Andrew Wackett

Dr. Wackett is participating in the development of a simulated patient program at Stony Brook and discussed the background of using simulated patients.  He clarified that the phrase “simulated patient” is used in reference to dummies/mannequins and the phrase “standardized patient” is used in reference to people acting as patients.  We currently have three simulated patients at Stony Brook located in the departments of Anesthesiology, OB/GYN and Emergency Medicine.  Some of the details and questions that were answered from the committee members are as follows:

• We have adult simulated patients on site (2 in Emergency Medicine & Anesthesiology), but no simulated children/babies, although they are available for purchase.  Drs. Wackett or Vitkin should be contacted for information about using these dummies.
• Useful adjunct in any course

Old Business

Referred to Objectives and Assessment Subcommittee

New Business

Laboratory Medicine Selective timing

Dr. Bock and the issue was referred to OME

Next Meeting

January 3, 2005