THE M.D. ANDERSON ALUMNI AND FACULTY ASSOCIATION MINUTES of STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, January 8, 2009 Wiess Conference Room, R11.1659 11:00 a.m. PRESENT: ABSENT: Cassie Ballard (ex-officio) Yvonne Bazunu (ex-officio) Dr. Michelle Barton Dr. Diane Bodurka Anne Bettinger Dr. Michael Businelle Dr. Elizabeth Bloom Dr. Toya Candelari (ex-officio) Dr. Oliver Bogler Brett Chiquet Dr. Joya Chandra Chyi Chou Dr. Tina Fanning Dr. Michael Deavers Charlotte Fuselier (ex-officio) Dr. Gary Gallick Dr. J Freireich Dr. Beverly Handy Leigh Greathouse (via teleconference) Dr. Thomas Haynie Dr. Peter Hu Dr. Thomas Matney Dr. Mahesh Kanojia Dr. Adan Rios Dr. Rakesh Kumar Dr. Louise Strong Sharon Pepper Dr. Stephen Tomasovic (ex-officio) Dr. Naoto Ueno Dr. Charles Walter Jana Mills (visitor) A. Review and approval of Minutes of previous meeting Dr. Bloom opened the meeting at 11:00 a.m. She requested that the Steering Committee review the minutes of the last meeting and the minutes were approved. B. New Business Global Academic Programs Presentation – Karen K. Fields, M.D., Vice President for Global Academic Programs (GAP) Dr. Fields began her presentation with an overview of Global Academic Programs (GAP) and how they’re seeking to expand the reach of M. D. Anderson’s Making Cancer History® mission by building relationships with premier academic, health care and government entities that share our vision and to help develop an important international dimension to our academic programs. Together with M.D. Anderson these affiliations form a very powerful research, education, clinical care and prevention network with great ability to influence and advance global oncology. GAP is comprised of 21 formal Sister Institution relationships that are part of the total of 40 worldwide activities in which GAP is engaged. These relationships are created to provide support and manage the integration of our research, education, clinical care models and cancer prevention models at these locations. They also serve as opportunities for faculty development for those who are involved in these projects. TYPES OF ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS: Named Affiliates: Includes M. D. Anderson Orlando and M. D. Anderson España, in Madrid. GAP is working on creating a scientific leadership counsel at M. D. Anderson España to find ways to take advantage of research opportunities there. Sister Institutions: Criteria: When seeking a Sister Institution candidate, we want to align ourselves with institutions that look more like us…that are established academic institutions. We want to align ourselves with places whose mission is consistent with M. D. Anderson’s mission. The candidate institution must have adequate infrastructure to support collaborations. We need faculty sponsors from M. D. Anderson with demonstrated support of their appropriate division/department leadership. The collaboration must be substantial (multiple research areas) and should offer a high impact in the geographic region. Adequate funding must be identified to support the collaboration prior to initiation of the relationship. Partnerships: Collaborations in which the focus is on specific diseases Strategic Alliances: Focused collaborations with organizations on one topic or disease within a geographic region. Individual Collaborations: Scientific or other collaborations between faculty here at M. D. Anderson with colleagues working or practicing abroad. These have historically lead to Sister Institution relationships. OVERALL STRATEGIC PLAN: 1. Create an integrated and synergistic academic network based on common interests and goals. 2. Utilize network to accomplish basic, translational and clinical cancer research and cancer control objectives of global importance. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 1. Develop, sustain and promote a high-quality global network of premier institutions sharing our mutual goal of eliminating cancer. 2. Integrate successfully with Center for Global Oncology (CGO) initiatives. 3. Increase value of GAP activities 4. Enhance internal visibility of GAP activities for the faculty, administration and staff 5. Promote the educational needs and training objectives of the institution 6. Demonstrate clear benefit to faculty and institution for participation in GAP activities 7. Assure high quality clinical trials activities Dr. Fields concluded her presentation by taking questions. Some questions involved funding of international trainees coming from Sister Institutions, capturing Observers information, and developing curriculum and clinical trials standards (and related issues). She was interested in the suggestion of creating alumni chapters in areas where Sister Institutions exist. She mentioned her website and encouraged those who have questions to contact her office to get more information. C. Old Business Sharon Pepper updated the Committee on two pending issues/topics: Dr. Freireich posed the question at the last Committee meeting that he would like for alumni members, especially international alumni, to have access to the institution’s Core Curriculum and Grand Rounds, since they are available on-line (iTunes university) and could be easily accessed. Sharon Pepper stated that Academic Programs Educational Products was working on making that available as a link from the alumni website. Dr. Tomasovic requested a report on the seventh annual Houston Anderson Alumni Dinner. Sharon Pepper reported that fewer were in attendance this year than in years past (350 vs. over 400). Fewer trainees and more retired faculty attended then ever before. She also stated that she received no feedback, complaints or compliments, regarding the choice of speaker. The participating charity, the American Red Cross grossed $5,000 from the auction and direct mail; however, they spent $4,600 mailing out the mail piece and purchasing items for the auction. Suggestions for a future dinner were to include a talk and invite out of town alumni members. D. Other Dr. Bloom announced that Dr. Kumar has accepted a new position as a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the George Washington University Medical Center. He was presented with a gift and cake. Dr. Rakesh Kumar expressed his appreciation for the experience at M. D. Anderson. The next Steering Committee meeting is schedule for March 12, 2009. E. Adjourn As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.