Solutions Critical to Ensure the Future of K.C.O.M.
“The clinical faculty desires to seek a common goal to remedy issues critical to the future of K.C.O.M.”
Proposals to Improve the Situation at K.C.O.M.
for the Board of Trustees to Earnestly Consider
‘The clinical faculty desires to seek a common goal of working together to re-emphasize the D.O. curriculum, restore scientifically-based principles to the curriculum, and establish an organized, respected, and accessible administration at K.C.O.M.’
-Basic sciences: We should evaluate the teaching and research done at K.C.O.M.
-Clinical sciences: We should examine the core curriculum with a balanced curriculum committee. Replacement of lost faculty is needed to re-establish the clinical didactic experience at K.C.O.M.
e.g.: The most recent examples of clinical faculty recruited to K.C.O.M. then leaving shortly thereafter is Drs R. Misischia(Internal Medicine), M. Misischia (oncology), and M. Bonin (emergency medicine).
-3rd and 4th year clinical rotations: We should move forward to again consolidate, standardize and monitor the clinical rotation sites for quality and cost control. We should also strengthen ties with existing sites that are in danger of being lost to K.C.O.M. students.
e.g.: The most recent clinical site development attempted was in Georgia, which was a failure and had no available osteopathic post-graduate educational opportunities.
e.g.: The administration is currently trying to establish a clinical rotation in Utah/Idaho that has no existing osteopathic post-graduate opportunities.
-Curriculum: We should examine extreme claims made by the OTM department during their course of teaching in the general curriculum. The curriculum committee should strive for a curriculum with balanced hours between all disciplines. The college should utilize a qualified clinical research director to enhance clinical research on campus.
-Leadership: The suggestions contained in this proposal cannot occur without strong leadership from a dean and president who will work candidly with the clinical faculty. Individuals selected for the position of dean or president should be well respected by their peers and have the appropriate credentials. A dean or president should work with the clinical faculty to strengthen didactics at K.C.O.M. and clinical rotation sites.
-Replace the Dean: K.C.O.M. urgently needs a dean with solid clinical credentials and experience. The dean should have qualifications that would enable him or her to satisfy the following needs of quality student education at K.C.O.M.
1) Recognize the needs of the students during their educational process to become future physicians of any specialty.
2) Recognize the needs of clinical and basic science faculty to provide quality education. The dean should structure the curriculum committee to allow free and sincere contribution to the educational process. The dean should respect the decisions of the promotion boards and ECF.
3) The dean should be adept at providing an organizational structure and hierarchy for K.C.O.M. that is clear, concise, and understood by all faculty.
4) A dean is needed who will be a role model and enjoy the confidence and respect, not only of the local and regional faculty, but the entire osteopathic profession.
e.g.: Dr. Kuchera has, in effect, abdicated his responsibilities as the chief academic officer of the school to the president.
5) The dean should have full academic and budgetary authority.
6) The dean should have academic credentials that meet or exceed those of a majority of the clinical faculty.
-Class Size: We should be a leader in our profession by moving to reduce the class size. Reduced class sizes will maintain quality and not expose large graduating classes to an environment of shrinking numbers of GME slots.
-Promotion Board and ECF: The administration should make every effort to consider individuals with the proper credentials to fill faculty and academic positions. Faculty should be promoted based on experience, previous rank, and years of contribution to the college. Promotions and appointments should not be at the personal wishes of the dean apart from involvement of the ECF and promotion board. This vital function for the college traditionally is the responsibility of the faculty promotion board.
-Communication with the Board: The board and clinical faculty should work together to build a better method of communication. We would suggest that a self-elected committee (not appointed by the dean or president) of the general faculty be established to meet with the ECF of the board bi-annually or when a need arises. A committee independent from administration appointment would have the latitude to speak freely to board members without fear of reprisal.
