University President John J. DeGioia’s creation of a new executive position in the Medical Center raises several concerns about his decision-making process. DeGioia, who announced his intention to appoint current Executive Vice President Sam Wiesel to the post, has failed to clearly define the responsibilities of the new position and to address faculty concerns about it. Indeed, it seems as if faculty input was ignored.
The Medical Center Governance, the document which outlines the administrative hierarchy of the Medical Center, makes only three vague references to the new Senior Vice President post. The SVP will work with the dean of the School of Medicine “in the design and implementation of academic policy for undergraduate clinical education”?that’s clear. But it is not specified to whom the SVP will report directly on non-financial matters; the document says only that he will report to the Executive Vice President on monetary issues. The document also does not make clear who will pay him, MedStar, the Maryland-based nonprofit organization that bought Georgetown Hospital two years ago, or the University, which maintains control of the Medical Center.
DeGioia has not yet explained his reasons for creating Wiesel’s new position. His silence has spoken volumes in whispers and rumors while breeding mistrust on campus. Fortunately, DeGioia has recently indicated that a response to the petition against Wiesel signed by 40 Medical Center faculty members is forthcoming.
The response should include three things. First, it must specify the responsibilities of Wiesel’s job. Second, it needs to explain why he has permitted Wiesel to remain at the University even after two votes of “no confidence” by the Medical Center faculty. It is tough to believe that Wiesel is going to be able to effectively lead a school whose faculty do not trust him.
Third, DeGioia should openly address the conflict of interest and other concerns related to salary, tenure and financial issues raised by signers of the petition. And if Wiesel is working for the University but being paid by MedStar, DeGioia needs to justify that arrangement. Faculty seemed concerned that Wiesel is going to look out for those who pay him, at the expense of the Medical School. We are not saying this fear is justified, but DeGioia needs to make us believe it is not.
A statement by DeGioia could go a long way towards resolving a contentious question. We’re all ears.
