It is my understanding that it has generally not been customary for former Deans to supply a written charge to search committees. In my opinion, this is a custom which ought not to be continued. Clearly provided instructions to the search committee are likely to facilitate your work and achieve a work product, for me, which will match my expectations. To this end, I provide the following charge to the Search Committee for the Chair of the Department of Medicine of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

The job description

            You are seeking a Chair of the Department of Medicine who will report to the Dean and who will, in turn, be reported to by the faculty and staff of the department. You are seeking an academic leader who will fulfill the clinical, education, and research missions of the department.  Furthermore, good clinical negotiating skills are important to deal with the multiple pushes and tugs of our relationships with multiple hospitals.

            As we seek a Chair of Medicine, I am reminded of the story of President Eisenhower’s Secretary of Defense, former General Motors’ President Charles “Choo-Choo” Wilson.  A defender of free enterprise, Wilson used to say, “What’s good for GM is good for the country.”  He viewed the success of the major automaker as central to the nation’s economic progress and national security. 

            I believe that “what’s good for the Department of Medicine is good for the School of Medicine.”  The Department of Medicine is absolutely central to our school’s UME, GME, and CME missions; our research enterprise; and clinical care.  The department houses a significant proportion of our faculty and staff and is deeply enmeshed in our relations with our partner hospitals.

            From some quarters I have been advised to appoint an interim internal candidate as interim chair.  I elect not to follow this advice.  I have elected to proceed with a national search because I feel that it would be a disservice to the department not to have a full, fulsome discussion of the department’s present and future and to have a broadly cast net for a search.  Furthermore, the department requires an empowered and firm hand on the tiller.  An interim chair would be unlikely to exert that firm hand. 

As I review the current status of the department, I have several specific issues I wish to emphasize: 

• Dr. Redinger has served this department with great dignity, commitment, and effort.  He is the second longest serving chair of medicine in the U.S.  I instruct the committee to offer him the opportunity to provide wise counsel and to consult with him with all appropriate deference. 
• Our relations with Jewish/St. Mary’s, Norton, University, and the VA Medical Center are essential to the success of this enterprise.  Emphasize candidates who will foster our hospital relationships.
• The strategic plans of this university and health sciences campus have described success in obtaining NCI designation for the Cancer Center, successful opening of the Faculty Office Building, and implementation of the new management structure of University Hospital and the combined faculty practices as priorities.  I urge you to seek a Chair of Medicine who is committed to these goals.
• I feel strongly that we must maintain our focus on medical education.  You are to seek a Chair of Medicine who is enthusiastic and proud to be a school teacher. 

In any economic undertaking, including the selection of a department chair, you must consider the allocation of resources “compared to alternatives.”  The University of Louisville School of Medicine has several major commitments either ongoing or upcoming.  We must identify Chairs of Neurology, Biochemistry, Anesthesiology, and Medicine; a Vice Dean for Research; and a Professor of Urban Health Policy.  It is likely that another two to three other Chairs will be vacated in the next one to two years. We are in the mist of a state budget cut.  This being the case, we will have to be good stewards of limited resources.

Interviews

            The committee shall conduct a series of interviews with key stakeholders during the selection of the Chair.  I ask you to be certain to interview me, the Division Chiefs, Chair Redinger, members of the faculty of the Department, members of the House Staff, and appropriate individuals representing the major departments/divisions that interact with Medicine, basic science researchers, and appropriate representatives of the hospitals.

Advertising

            The individual selected may either be an internal or external candidate. To identify candidates I ask that an appropriate phone and mail campaign be undertaken. In addition, please run appropriate advertising in journals or websites for two to three months.

The process

• Allow 6 to 10 weeks to receive letters of nomination or applications with accompanying CV’s.
• Check references.
• Conduct two rounds of interviews. I believe it is appropriate, as a matter of courtesy, to offer all internal candidates at least a first round interview.  At least 4 internal candidates have been recommended to me. 
• The committee chair and/or I will actively seek outside candidates who we believe merit the committee’s evaluation.  This may include “reverse site visits.”
• By August 15, 2008, and earlier if possible, please provide me with a list of two to four finalists, unranked. Under no circumstances include anyone on this list who the committee would not feel comfortable being offered the job.
• The last meeting of your committee should be with me where members of the committee will have the opportunity to discuss the final list.