This has been a truly momentous week for TOMA and for the osteopathic profession. On Friday morning, your humble servant was joined by AOA executive director John Crosby, AOA president Larry Wickless, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean Bill Strampel, David Garza, Robert DeLuca, Jim Froelich, Scott Stoll and Joanna Gibbons in our effort to educate the UNT Board of Trustees regarding the risks of the allopathic degree proposal. The Academic Affairs committee of the board was chaired by Dr. Charles Mitchell, an orthopedic surgeon from Mesquite, who looked out upon a packed room of interested persons. Your representatives presented comprehensive information that included the historic relationship of TOMA and TCOM, the growth of the osteopathic profession in the U.S. and in Texas, the exorbitant costs of creating and maintaining an allopathic degree program, and the unintended consequences that could ensue from the massive commitment of UNT in underwriting this proposal. The Price-Waterhouse-Coopers report was summarized by their representative, and TCOM Provost Tom Yorio and president Scott Ransom delivered strong personal endorsements for the proposed degree.
After three hours of presentation of facts and opinions from both sides, the board took about 3 minutes to vote unanimously to continue planning for this venture.
Chancellor Lee Jackson delivered a summary of the resolution prior to the vote, noting that the board was authorizing further planning, not an approach to the legislature. The board resolution requires raising $21.5 million, requires obtaining signed agreement from affiliated hospitals that guarantees TCOM student access to undergraduate and graduate training positions, and requires formal acknowledgement of the legislatively approved growth of TCOM. These requirements must be met prior to hiring a dean and prior to any further development of accreditation plans with the LCME or with state approval agencies.
Chancellor Lee Jackson delivered a summary of the resolution prior to the vote, noting that the board was authorizing further planning, not an approach to the legislature. The board resolution requires raising $21.5 million, requires obtaining signed agreement from affiliated hospitals that guarantees TCOM student access to undergraduate and graduate training positions, and requires formal acknowledgement of the legislatively approved growth of TCOM. These requirements must be met prior to hiring a dean and prior to any further development of accreditation plans with the LCME or with state approval agencies.
We find the formal resolution passed by the board to be a bit disingenuous, as we are aware that LCME representatives have already visited the campus and have met with administration officials. We are also aware that the HSC is in the process of hiring a lobbying firm in Forth Worth to begin their quest for legislative approval. Unfortunately, this pattern of mis-leading information is consistent with the history of this initiative of the President of the HSC. What the meeting further illustrated is that we underestimated the total control of the board that is exerted by the Chancellor. We expected, at the very least, a bit of discussion prior to a vote of this magnitude. There was absolutely none. Granted, the board meeting was a forum for everyone to speak their piece, but it ended with no discussion and a formula vote. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid would be envious of this type of control.
I will say that there is still time for the chancellor and the board to reconsider their action. We presented facts that illustrate in concrete terms the real costs associated with the start-up and maintenance of such a program. We presented real-world examples rather than the projections of PWC, that their leader admitted came straight from the HSC administration, and not from any other school, new or existing. Real world numbers from Michigan State and from the Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine were ignored by the board in their haste to act. When the chancellor balances his desire for a law school, a pharmacy school, a second building in Dallas, full funding for the four-year curriculum in Dallas, continued growth at TCOM, the new football stadium, moving the corporate headquarters to Dallas against the large funding hole that will be demanded by this degree, we hope that he will conclude that this pig can't fly. We are reliably informed that, in its' current form, this program will never be approved by the LCME. The other Health Science Centers have yet to be heard from, and that is another issue that is not addressed in the smoke-and-mirrors proposal as it currently exists.
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