Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science

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Message from the Provost-Chief Operating Officer/Acting President

Thomas Yoshikawa, MD
Interim President

This will be my final message to the Drew Family in my capacity as Acting President. We welcome our new incoming president, Dr. Susan Kelly, who will officially begin her duties on May 1, 2006. I will continue in my capacity as Provost-Chief Operating Officer until June 30, 2006, and assist Dr. Kelly in the transition. On July 1, 2006, I will remain as a faculty in the Research Office, mentoring faculty, teaching/supervising trainees, and pursuing scholarly activities.

This past year has been a huge success from my perspective. However, what successes we have achieved occurred because of the total team effort demonstrated and exercised by the executive leadership of Drew University, our administrative staff, and YOU the members of our Drew Family. No one person made good things happen—it was a collective effort of many people led by the individuals whom I am now going to acknowledge.

First and foremost, we have achieved our number one priority, that is, receiving full accreditation of Drew University from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). In this process, we also attained approval from the ACGME’s Residency Review Committee for training programs in Family Medicine and Anesthesia. Orthopedics residency remains as the only program on probationary status. Many of these successes are attributable to the leadership, hard work and relentless tenacity for excellence of Dr. Nancy Hanna, our Designated Institutional Official and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. She and her staff must be applauded for achieving a goal that very few people thought would be attained—AND in 6 months! This is probably our
biggest achievement this academic year.

We had 9 department chair vacancies in July 2005. Through the tireless efforts of Dr. Ron Edelstein, Interim Dean for College of Medicine (COM), we have filled 5 of these vacancies with excellent people. This is remarkable, given that most academic centers may recruit 1 or 2 new department chairs in one year. Dr. Edelstein has also managed skillfully the medical student program such that—despite all of the challenges encountered by both the hospital and University—our students have performed in an outstanding manner and remained committed to Drew’s mission. He, too, needs to be commended for contributing substantially to our success in our ACGME accreditation. Taking a slogan from a commercial, COM has been in “good hands” under Dr. Edelstein’s leadership.

In the 7 months that Mr. Randall Foster has been Vice President of Development, External Affairs and Administration, major structural and functional changes have occurred. The day-to-day operational aspects of our University are now functioning more efficiently and effectively, with greater accountability implemented at all staff levels. Pipeline programs such as Head Start and Saturday Science Academy have gained greater visibility and support from the University. Our relationships and communication with external agencies, other academic institutions, foundations, community-based organizations, political leaders, and individuals have vastly improved through the personal efforts of Mr. Foster. We have raised more funds from individual contributors under Mr. Foster’s leadership in less than a year than other former Drew VP’s for Development. Drew has truly been blessed with the hard work, commitment and integrity of Mr. Foster.

Our research mission has always been a top priority for me. Research is what establishes an academic institution’s stature and national recognition, and provides the major source of revenue to support the overall mission of the University. Under Dr. Keith Norris’ leadership, Drew has grown, flourished, and excelled in research with incredible success in funding from NIH and other external agencies. As Vice President for Research, Dr. Norris has been instrumental in garnering research dollars so that the infrastructure for research can lead to successful and productive faculty, resident and student investigative outcomes. Dr. Norris has also been dedicating substantial time and effort in spearheading our initiative for constructing a much-needed new research building. He has raised funds for establishing endowments for research and graduate medical education-related activities. We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding faculty leading Drew’s research programs.

I had known about the leadership of Dr. Gary Sayed, Dean of College of Science and Health (COSH), before I became Acting President. In the months I’ve worked with Dr. Sayed, I’ve come to appreciate even more what major contributions he has made for both COSH and Drew University. Dr. Sayed is
a highly skilled administrator with a keen vision of what is necessary to respond to the needs of this community and to implement them with efficiency and quality. He has established our first 4-year undergraduate baccalaureate degree program and a Master of Public Health program focusing on urban health, and provided the foundation for Drew to develop a school of nursing. Over the next few years, you will see more outstanding and needed programs emanate from the COSH under
Dr. Sayed’s stewardship.

Dr. Ron Lau is our “money man.” I met Dr. Lau when I was Interim Dean, COM, several years ago.
I have worked with him during my tenure as Department Chair for Internal Medicine. He is the best Chief Financial Officer (CFO) I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Dr. Lau has the two most important qualities of a CFO: He is trustworthy and meticulously accurate (with figures/numbers). Prior to Dr. Lau’s arrival, Drew University’s finances were in a mess, which everyone would agree. During the past 4 years, we have had unqualified audits of Drew’s financial status by external auditors. This indicates the financial stability and viability of this University. Drew owes much gratitude to Dr. Lau for his dedication, integrity and financial skills.

Finally, let me thank my administrative staff in the President’s office, Patricia (Pat) Thompson, Flory Ferns-James, and Geane Neal for their uncompromising loyalty and commitment to serve this University. They demonstrated professionalism, accountability and quality service to the Drew Family. Both Pat and Flory left secure employment to join me in the President’s office so that they may contribute to the progress and success of Drew. They will be leaving the President’s office to continue to serve this University in other capacities. Please communicate to them your appreciation for the service they provided you.

It’s been a wonderful year for me. I had the opportunity to perform a job that I had always wanted to do but did not think the opportunity would ever occur. I thank the Drew Board of Trustees for their trust and confidence in me during this current academic year. I look forward to interacting with many of you as I transition to newer opportunities and challenges.

Thank you all for your support.

Thomas T. Yoshikawa, M.D.

“We are Drew….Making a Difference”