NEOMED Board of Trustees meeting highlights
The Board of Trustees meeting was called to order at noon, Thursday, June 8.
With an executive session scheduled to follow a working lunch upon the meeting call, the reconvening for the full board meeting took place at 2:30 p.m. starting with the President’s report.
President Langell began by recognizing NEOMED’s recent graduating class of 274 students — NEOMED’s largest ever. Among the recent graduates was “Doctor” Sanjay Jinka whom Dr. Langell recognized for his many contributions to the Board as a student trustee. Dr. Langell also commended Dr. Jinka for great leadership in other areas at the University including the Student-Run Free Clinic.
Dr. Langell thanked Donald Malone, M.D., a 1985 NEOMED alumnus and current president of the Cleveland Clinic Ohio Hospitals, for his commencement keynote speech. He then congratulated honorary degree recipients Bob Klonk, former NEOMED Board Trustee and Chair, and Elisabeth L. Rosenthal. M.D., for her many contributions to health policy and care.
Dr. Langell announced that U.S. News & World Report recently published its 2023-2024 Best Graduate Schools which revealed NEOMED’s improved ranking in several areas. NEOMED’s high ranking at #41 [of 124 ranked schools] for Diversity [a 52% increase over last year] earned NEOMED the right to use U.S. News Best Graduate Schools award badge.
With a 778% increase in applications from 2022, Dr. Langell recognized the College of Graduate Studies for its excellent growth. He thanked current Dean Julie Aultman, Ph.D., former dean Steve Schmidt, Ph.D., and Nate Flath, CAA, who serves as the program director for the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia degree program.
Several accolades were also given to those who worked on the CODA [Commission on Dental Accreditation] application submission as well all involved in gaining the financial support — more than $7 million in state and federal grants plus the $10 million Bitonte Family Foundation — needed to press forward.
Dr. Langell welcomed NEOMED’s newest deans Katherine Tromp, Ph.D., and Marc Basson, M.D., to NEOMED and their respective Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine. He also congratulated newly honored fellows Vahagn Ohanyan, M.D., Ph.D., and Adam Goodwill, Ph.D., who were elected by the American Physiology Society-Cardiovascular Section (APS-CV section), as well as Jackie Boyle, Pharm.D. (’12), and Mate Soric, Pharm.D., on being honored as 2023 ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) fellows.
From the budget to the NEOMED-conceived CMHA (Certified Mental Health Assistant) degree program, Dr. Langell mentioned various Ohio legislature initiatives that were underway but not finalized. He thanked the IUC (Inter-University Council) for its advocacy as well as State Sen. Theresa Gavarone and State Rep. Gail Pavliga for their support.
Dr. Langell then updated trustees on the exciting progress being made with various initiatives that are ongoing, including:
- With 56% of employees trained thus far, Lean Six Sigma continues to pay off with Jordan Cinderich’s leadership.
- Doreen Riley and her team has more than doubled last year’s fundraising efforts.
- The NEOMED-UH major affiliation launched its first Ideator competition (there were more than 40 participants) that took place at Bounce Innovation Hub. Dr. Langell applauded Lacey Madison and Maria Schimer for leading the charge and Michael Forbes, M.D., for his keynote. More than 200 were in attendance.
- The move and re-opening (in July) of the store previously called “The Nook” will include more merchandise, expanded hours and food offerings as well as other to-be-determined services in The NEW Center space that is four times larger than the old store.
What’s next? Dr. Langell added that discussions about more health and wellness activities and a 4th tower at The Village are in the works.
He concluded by introducing Sheila Fleming, Ph.D., director of the Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research Focus Area, who would provide an interesting presentation on the focus area as part of ongoing Board engagement of the work that’s happening at NEOMED.