Windsor Program: "Faculty startled by med school head's resignation"

[Byrne]

Article just posted online:

 

WINDSOR, Ont. -- The surprise resignation of the head of Windsor’s medical school has left faculty and staff wondering why they weren’t consulted about a leadership change so early in the school’s development.

 

Dr. Tom Scott, the associate dean of Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry’s program at the University of Windsor, is leaving his post May 31, 2010 and will be largely absent in the new year, taking his banked holiday time from Jan. 1 until March 31.

 

The Schulich school’s satellite campus in Windsor opened to students in September 2008.

 

Scott’s announcement this week stunned faculty members and prompted the formation of an ad hoc committee to address the issue.

 

In a letter addressed to Dr. Carol Herbert, dean of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario in London, committee chairman Dr. Al Kadri said faculty members are upset and frustrated by her acceptance of Scott’s resignation.

 

“Although you indicated that both universities were in support of your decision you clearly did not value the opinions of Windsor Schulich faculty, staff or students in making your decision,” Kadri, a nephrologist at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, wrote. “This unilateral decision has left us with a mistrust of leadership from London and has in fact hurt our relationship and willingness to communicate rather than foster an environment of collegiality and cooperation that is supposed to be central to our relationship.”

 

In an interview Thursday, Kadri said Scott’s resignation is baffling “because the guy was doing such a great job.”

 

Scott has been instrumental in establishing the Windsor medical training program and is well-liked and respected, Kadri said.

 

“When you make a change at this stage, there is always a concern because you want to see that momentum going,” he said. “It’s one of those things where you scratch your head and say: ‘I wonder why?’ Hopefully it will be a situation where the wheels keep turning and everything will be fine.”

 

Kadri said the reasons behind Scott’s departure are still unknown, but said the faculty has no evidence that he was pressured to quit.

 

Scott, who was appointed associate dean in 2007, could not be reached for comment Thursday. A receptionist at the medical school said he was out of the country.

 

Herbert said she understands the faculty’s concerns about the change in leadership, but stressed that Scott’s resignation won’t jeopardize the future of the medical school.

 

“We have absolute commitment to the continuance of the Windsor program,” she said in an interview. “Certainly our students are not going to be disadvantaged in any way and we’ll try to make it as smooth as possible for faculty.”

 

“We appreciate all Dr. Scott has done to help build our program in Windsor.”

 

Herbert said Scott submitted his resignation “some time ago,” but it was deferred until the end of the school year. Most faculty and staff only found out about it recently, she said.

 

“Whenever there is a change, when a leader is changing, the people who have been working with that leader often feel quite disconcerted.… So of course, they are anxious. I see this all the time,” Herbert said. “But nothing depends on a single individual. The program is robust, it’s firmly embedded in the community in Windsor. Leaders will change, teachers will change, students will change but the program goes on.”

 

University of Windsor president Alan Wildeman echoed Herbert, saying the university is committed to working with its London counterpart, local hospitals and doctors to continue developing the medical school.

 

Herbert said the Schulich school will appoint an acting dean to cover Scott’s holiday leave and is looking for his permanent replacement.

 

© Copyright © The Windsor Star

 

WOW! This really caught me off guard ... (not a student, but I have been following the program relatively closely)

[Byrne]

It might be that it's common practice for administrators to sort of come in and leave like this. However, given it is no secret what a fantastic job Dr. Scott is doing with the program and how closely he interacts with the students and those other individuals on the front lines (staff and faculty), it seems strange that students, faculty and staff would only be hearing about this now ... while Dr. Scott isn't even in the country.

[MansionMD]

WOW

 

(+10 characters)

[iraqattaq]

I feel when you take a position that impacts a community in this way you need to be transparent.

[Byrne]

I think the media may be blowing it a bit out of proportion. It really is too early to say what's really going on ...

[Byrne]

Another article posted online today:

 

Resignations prompt call for stand-alone medical school at U of W

 

The head of Windsor Regional Hospital says it’s time to start pushing for a stand-alone medical school in the community after another key leader of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry’s satellite campus in Windsor submitted his resignation.

 

Dr. Raphael Cheung, the assistant dean of Schulich’s Windsor program, resigned from his post shortly after the departure of associate dean Dr. Tom Scott was made public last week.

 

WRH CEO David Musyj said the resignations are “very unfortunate for the community” and call for a serious look at establishing an independent medical school in Windsor.

 

“It was always the hope that we would have a free-standing medical school but maybe we need to look at that sooner rather than later,” he said.

 

He said he holds Scott and Cheung in “the highest regard” and wishes they weren’t leaving.

 

“It’s been a very successful program because of their work. We need to continue … so that we don’t lose the momentum that the two of them had,” Musyj said.

 

Scott’s resignation is effective May 31 and he will be away on holidays between Jan.1. and March 31.

 

It wasn’t clear Monday whether Cheung’s resignation was effective immediately or some time in the new year. Schulich’s Windsor campus is closed for the holidays and staff at Cheung’s medical office said he was on vacation until January.

 

A spokeswoman for the University of Western Ontario in London, where the Schulich school’s main campus is located, said Cheung is stepping down from the administrative role but will continue to teach in Windsor.

 

Dr. Carol Herbert, the school’s dean, was out of the province Monday and did not respond to an e-mail from The Star seeking comment.

 

Cheung, a Windsor endocrinologist, got involved with training medical students long before blueprints were even drawn up for the $24-million state-of-the-art medical school building on Sunset Avenue. He was first appointed assistant dean of the Southwestern Ontario Medical Education Network, a satellite campus of UWO in Windsor that allowed students from London to get hands-on clinical training in local hospitals and doctors’ offices.

 

The unexpected departures of Scott and Cheung, who played major roles in developing the medical school and bringing in students and teachers, leave behind many questions and worries that the program could be in jeopardy. The school, years in the making, opened to students in the fall of 2008 with 24 first-year spots. Six more spots were added in September and the school will be able to accept 38 first-year students next fall.

 

There has been speculation that Scott, whose resignation shocked and angered the Windsor faculty, was pressured to leave by administration in London.

 

In an interview with The Star last week, Herbert said Scott had submitted his resignation some time ago, choosing to retire, but agreed to stay on until the end of the school year. Herbert pledged Schulich’s commitment to the Windsor program, saying a qualified replacement will soon be appointed.

 

Dr. Al Kadri, a local nephrologist and chairman of an ad hoc committee established in response to Scott’s departure, said the timing of Cheung’s resignation is “suspicious” and “puzzling.” He said faculty members haven’t been given details or reasons behind the leadership change.

 

“We may never know what exactly happened,” he said.

 

Musyj said local hospitals have been informally discussing a stand-alone medical school, which would have “enormous support” from local physicians.

 

He noted that the school has helped attract numerous doctors and specialists to the community who were enticed by teaching opportunities and otherwise may have chosen another city over Windsor.

 

MPPs Dwight Duncan (L — Windsor-Tecumseh) and Sandra Pupatello (L — Windsor West), who were heavily involved in bringing the medical school to Windsor, were not available for comment Monday.

 

© Copyright © The Windsor Star

[nemesis]

Very unfortunate.

 

I am curious as to the circumstances surrounding these resignations.

[Darla]

I assure you that there is much more to this story than you will get from the newspapers, it's rather a one-sided approach to the story. That's all I can pass on though.

[btf1010]

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[future_doc]

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[future_doc]

yes, of course, I was merely responding to the post made immediately prior to mine - which post has since been removed

[supafield]

This is eerily similar to the Tiger Woods story for me.

 

I always figure the media is trying to stir the pot to sell papers and bring up ratings without true regard for the integrity of the story.

 

However, now a second resignation, and no explanations.

 

I wonder what's behind this whole story and I hope it resolves itself fast. It's amazing how political these situations can get and I really hope it doesn't trickle down to the students.

 

After working that hard to be where the Windsor students are, they don't need these shenanigans going on and distracting their education.

 

Here's hoping to a speedy and clean resolution of this story.

[iraqattaq]

I really hope it doesn't affect the students. However it seems from the reports and the buzz in local government (I work at city hall not for the municipality but we share a lunch room;) ) that the mystery surrounding the departures can affect the communities ability to attract physicians looking for a community with a stable medical program. We can argue whether or not the Windsor program is stable and I have no doubt it is, but the perception is that the program is shaky and it can affect the schools community purpose, to attract physicians both through the students and existing physicians.

[gibson303]

I doubt it will affect the students who are enrolled in the Windsor program now, it however is a cause for concern to whats going to happen for any incoming students.

[rmorelan]

The program isn't shaky. You can't argue that because you don't know what's going on. If anything, the support for it is too strong from the community. Doctors are too enthusiastic, and we have waitlists/lines running for physicians really eager to teach and take on students for observorships. From what has said (which I wouldn't consider reliable) they want to take this program in their own direction and help build the community and that means taking it off Schulich's leash. Ain't gonna happen.

 

I don't see any point in discussing any further at this point because we don't have any valid information to work with. What's so ironic about this whole thing is that this whole fiasco is probably going to DETER interest from this program and make it come off as a "shaky" program, like the poster I quoted above.

 

Makes sense - doctors are a high energy sort of bunch

 

Having two people leave a program that is actually up and running is not going to cause serious long term problems - not that they weren't excellent people, it's because they were excellent that the program is on a foundation that is not easily disrupted. Seems to be a bit too much gloom and doom attached to this in my opinion.

[Byrne]

Definitely seems like there is a bit of a disconnect between administration in London and the Windsor-based faculty.

 

I wonder if any of the other satellite programs (of McMaster or Toronto) have experienced or will experience these kind of growing pains?

[Byrne]

Another article was also posted online -- this story is getting a lot of attention in the Windsor Star:

 

Meeting to address loss of 2 med school leaders

 

WINDSOR, Ont. -- Windsor medical school stakeholders will meet after the holidays to discuss the future of Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry's local program following the controversial resignations of its top two leaders.

 

University of Windsor president Alan Wildeman issued a brief statement Tuesday saying he will assemble the school's "principal partners," including local hospitals, in the new year "to discuss how we can all be assured that the future growth of the program best serves the needs of students and our community."

 

Meanwhile, CEO of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, Warren Chant, echoed Tuesday his Windsor Regional Hospital counterpart, saying hospitals and physician groups need to sit down and "formalize" discussions about establishing a stand-alone medical school in Windsor.

 

Dr. Tom Scott, the associate dean of the Schulich school's satellite campus at U of W, and Dr. Raphael Cheung, the assistant dean, both resigned from their positions last week, much to the surprise of faculty and students, as well as members of the local medical community.

 

Neither has spoken publicly about their reasons for leaving, fuelling speculation that there was a clash between local leadership and the Schulich administration in London.

 

Dr. Carol Herbert, dean of the Schulich school at the University of Western Ontario, has said that Scott, who officially leaves May 31, 2010, chose to retire and had submitted his resignation a while ago, but it's still unclear why Cheung stepped down as soon as Scott's departure was announced. Cheung will continue to teach at the school.

 

Monday, Windsor Regional CEO David Musyj said the apparent unrest calls for serious talks about setting up an independent medical school here.

 

Chant agreed, saying he expects there will be more formal meetings to discuss the issue in January.

 

"Maybe we should move forward to gain our independence sooner rather than later," Chant said Tuesday, adding that he was "very disappointed" by the loss of Scott and Cheung as medical school leaders.

 

"I'm very disturbed by that because we should be having very good collaboration and relations with the Schulich medical school. But I don't know what exactly happened," he said.

 

Dr. Kevin Tracey, the medical director of Hotel-Dieu's nuclear medicine department and acting chief of staff at the hospital, who teaches at Schulich's Windsor campus and has known Scott and Cheung for many years, said the pair was expected to lead the new school "for many years to come."

 

"We're starting to ask why (they're leaving) and we weren't consulted on it," Tracey said.

 

Herbert has announced that a Windsor-born Dr. Jim Silcox who formerly held a number of leadership roles — including that of an assistant dean at the London medical school — has been appointed the acting associate dean of Schulich's Windsor program while Scott takes a holiday leave from Jan. 1 to March 31.

 

Silcox, an obstetrician-gynecologist who retired from practice and the medical school four years ago, "understands how important the Windsor program is to the Windsor community, and is dedicated to its ongoing success," Herbert said in an e-mailed statement, adding that he was "instrumental" in establishing the Windsor medical training program years ago.

 

© Copyright © The Windsor Star

 

... not really any "news" in this article aside from the meeting that will take place in the New Year.

 

Though it's just gossip at this point, some of the posts in the comments section of the article revealing Dr. Cheung's resignation are interesting to read: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Resignations+prompt+call+stand+alone+medical+school/2368527/story.html

[rmorelan]

Lol. I love how they are talking about making a stand alone medical school like it's an overnight process. It took years to get the windsor program going as a part of schulich, so go figure how long it will take before the windsor campus is established as a standalone medical school.

 

It takes more than a bunch of eager doctors and a 25 million dollar building to make a medical school.

 

Yeah I would agree - if the school does eventually become its own school then they should probably wait at least until they have increased the number of students to a moderately high level and given it a few years at least to work out the kinks. We haven't even gone through a clerkship phase yet at the Windsor site, and that can certainly introduce a few new wrinkles.

 

What's the hurray anyway - I don't see the advantage to the future doctors they are training to leave the protective system they have in place yet.

[ploughboy]

Lol. I love how they are talking about making a stand alone medical school like it's an overnight process. It took years to get the windsor program going as a part of schulich, so go figure how long it will take before the windsor campus is established as a standalone medical school.

 

It takes more than a bunch of eager doctors and a 25 million dollar building to make a medical school.

 

This. The Windsor site is accredited because UWO is accredited. To be separately accredited by the AFMC/LCME would be be a decidedly nontrivial, multi-year endeavour. I expect it will happen eventually*, but not now and especially not with this going on. Interestingly enough, if memory serves one of Dr. Scott's prior gigs was a leadership position during the start-up of the the last Ontario medical school to receive independent accreditation. If I wanted to set up an independently accredited medical school in Canada, he's somebody I'd want to have on my team.

 

My grasp of SSMD decanal politics is incomplete and out-dated, but I suspect there are only a handful of people and issues that could have compelled Dr. Scott to resign. Oh to be a fly on the wall...

 

Interesting to see that Dr. Cheung also resigned. He always struck me as a quality person (not that Dr. Scott isn't, it's just that I interacted more with Dr. Cheung). I clerked in Windsor when Dr. Cheung was Associate Dean, before Dr. Scott came on board. When I showed up in mid-third year he not only recognized me from a site visit in first year and remembered my name, but made sure to ask me if things were going well with my rotations whenever I ran into him at the hospitals**. I ran into him again at Tachy '09 and he was asking me things about my personal life that he had to have remembered from our conversations years previously. He was genuinely interested, and not just making generic conversation. That really impressed me. To see him stepping down from his position at the medical school that he's been working toward building for at least the last five and likely the last 10 years is somewhat personally disconcerting (and I'll leave it at that).

 

Dr. Silcox, by the way, is absolutely fantastic and a great choice as caretaker dean. The students at Windsor should rest assured that they will be well taken care of as all of this unfolds. There's a reason SAC gives out the Jim Silcox Award every year -- he rocks.

 

Random aside re: clerking -- In theory the Meds 2012 transition to clerkship should be relatively painless, since UWO students have been clerking at Met and the Dieu for years already. The consultants, the hospitals the school admin have their routine down pat when it comes to dealing with the care and handling of clerks, and there shouldn't be any surprises next year.

 

pb

 

 

 

* Ditto Waterloo. I fully expect UW is or will be politicking to combine Mac's satellite med school in Kitchener with U of T's satellite pharm school in Kitchener and UW's current optometry school, and health sci programs -- but that's not likely to happen for 5-10 years.

 

** For those who like to question student experience in Windsor vs other larger schools, answer me this: When was the last time you had your Dean come up to you at a nursing station and say "Hey [your first name -- not the name on your school documents, but the name that you go by socially], how's your rotation going? I hear your service has been really busy. If you ever have any questions or concerns you know where my office is. Oh, and can I have that chart when you're done? I've been consulted on that patient too. Go ahead and finish your note, I'll wait."

[sfinch]

This whole ordeal is exacerbated by the fact that UWO is the one Canadian medical school that is currently on probation in Canada. Hopefully they will be taken off probation this year - it's been really stressful on the faculty here.

 

Apparently it has to do with poor objective outlining and some critical areas of medicine being poorly covered in the first 2 years.

 

edit.

ps...dal is also on probation, and alastriss might be right about dean hebert emailing all staff/residents/students about becoming accredited.

[sfinch]

We were on probation until quite recently...if we passed it with the recent cycle...i don't know. Hopefully we did.

[sfinch]

Before for sure (pre september)...I thought steps were being made to pass accreditation - I can't believe i didn't know we actually passed! Makes me even prouder knowing i'm going to an accredited medical school. ;-)

[ploughboy]

We were on probation until quite recently...if we passed it with the recent cycle...i don't know. Hopefully we did.

 

 

"2. LCME/CACMS Report on Accreditation

Dr. Rebel presented slides outlining the results of the limited site visit earlier this year. Full accreditation was received until 2015-16 with a written report by August 2010. Thanks to all who have worked so hard since 2007 to address areas on non-compliance."

 

http://www.fmd.uwo.ca/executivecommittees/documents/committee/ECSC/2009_2010/minutes_november_2009.pdf

[rmorelan]

Before for sure (pre september)...I thought steps were being made to pass accreditation - I can't believe i didn't know we actually passed! Makes me even prouder knowing i'm going to an accredited medical school. ;-)

 

hehehe, seems like every school gets stuck on that from time to time - I never view it as a real evaluation of the quality of the school. So many small hoops you have to jump through with shifting rules from two organizing bodies that don't always agree.

[nemesis]

I really hope it doesn't affect the students. However it seems from the reports and the buzz in local government (I work at city hall not for the municipality but we share a lunch room;) ) that the mystery surrounding the departures can affect the communities ability to attract physicians looking for a community with a stable medical program. We can argue whether or not the Windsor program is stable and I have no doubt it is, but the perception is that the program is shaky and it can affect the schools community purpose, to attract physicians both through the students and existing physicians.

 

I doubt it will affect the students who are enrolled in the Windsor program now, it however is a cause for concern to whats going to happen for any incoming students.

 

The program isn't shaky but the perception of that will be. If anything, the support for it is too strong from the community. Doctors are too enthusiastic, and we have waitlists/lines running for physicians really eager to teach and take on students for observorships. From what has said (which I wouldn't consider reliable) they want to take this program in their own direction and help build the community and that means taking it off Schulich's leash. Ain't gonna happen.

 

I don't see any point in discussing any further at this point because we don't have any valid information to work with. What's so ironic about this whole thing is that this whole fiasco is probably going to DETER interest from this program and make it come off as a "shaky" program, like the poster I quoted above said.

 

+1

 

Agreed.

 

This whole issue is definitely not doing the school any favours.