Outgoing Arts and Sciences dean Richard McCarty with the
next generation, Dan Weiss
Photo by Jay Van
Rensselaer |
University
Weiss Named Dean of Arts
& Sciences
An art historian with two degrees from Johns Hopkins and an
MBA from Yale has been named dean of the
Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. Professor of
art history Daniel Weiss (MA '82,
PhD '92) will assume his new role on July 1. He succeeds
Richard McCarty, longtime Hopkins biology professor, who is
eager to return to the classroom and lab. "Research is a
part of my very fabric," says McCarty '60 (PhD '64), a
central figure in the world of plant physiology.
Weiss has followed a rapid trajectory at Hopkins. He
joined the faculty in 1993 and became chair of the history
of art department in 1998. Two years later he joined the
dean's office as senior adviser to McCarty; since last
August he has served as dean of the faculty at Arts and
Sciences.
"Ordinarily, when a dean leaves office, we do a
thorough national search. In this case ... the choice is an
obvious one," noted Hopkins president William R. Brody, in a
broadcast e-mail message announcing Weiss' appointment.
During his tenure in the dean's office, Weiss helped
oversee the creation of a strategic plan for the School of
Arts and Sciences--a road map that was adopted last year by
faculty, students, and alumni (a
href="/ksas/website/aboutksas/strategic_plan">
www.jhu.edu/ksas/website/aboutksas/strategic_plan ).
Weiss says that implementing this plan will be his top
priority, and adds, "We've already started [moving ahead] on
several fronts."
The plan noted, for example, that the Krieger School
had fallen behind its competitors in faculty compensation,
particularly in the social and natural sciences, threatening
its "ability to attract and retain the finest scholars,
scientists, and educators." Some salary increases have
already been implemented ("ahead of schedule," says Weiss),
and there are plans for phasing in additional increases over
the next five years. The school will also move to increase
the size of its faculty by about 15 percent--or 35
positions--over the next seven to 10 years, according to the
plan. During this time of growth, increasing faculty
diversity will be key, Weiss says.
Hand in hand with these changes, notes Weiss, comes a
greater focus on the undergraduate experience. "That
includes increasing the number of seminar courses offered to
undergraduates," he says, as well as "diversifying--
intellectually, ethnically, and racially--our undergraduate
student body to make this a more interesting place."
The emphasis on undergraduate life will be a sustained
one throughout the university, Weiss notes. In February,
Hopkins' newly created Commission on Undergraduate
Education--a 30-member task force--began working to produce
by spring 2003 a list of recommendations aimed at
significantly improving the quality of undergraduate
education at Hopkins over the next two decades.
Weiss, who has twice won Hopkins awards for teaching
excellence, intends to maintain some involvement in the
classroom and to continue his work advising graduate
students. "I'd like, if possible, to teach a little bit.
Everyone in the [dean's] office will teach a little bit,
because that's important." His research, however, which has
focused on the art of the Middle Ages, will have to go on
the back burner. "Fund raising will be a huge part of what
I'm going to be doing," he says, noting that the launch of
the university's new campaign will coincide with his start
as dean.
After earning his MBA from Yale in 1985, Weiss took a
"detour" from his academic career to work for four years for
the consulting firm of Booz Allen Hamilton. That experience
"has been enormously helpful in helping me to get a
perspective on how large, complicated organizations operate,
and how to think about budgetary problems and analyze
financial situations," he says.
Weiss has appointed Adam Falk, a Hopkins faculty member
in physics and astronomy, to focus on faculty issues in the
newly created post of vice dean for faculty and academic
programs.
As of July, McCarty will become dean emeritus and
special adviser to President Brody, and will continue to
work with Arts and Sciences alumni. And, perhaps best of
all, in his view, he'll return to his students and research
in the biology department. "I have missed active involvement
in my laboratory and teaching," says McCarty, who joined the
Hopkins faculty in 1990 after 24 years at Cornell. Last fall
he received a five-year grant renewal from the National
Science Foundation. Says McCarty, "This award has made me
even more eager to spend more time in the lab." --Sue De
Pasquale
Medicine
Hospital Traces
Infections
After tracing a surge in infections among sick and
immune-compromised patients to faulty bronchoscopes, Hopkins
doctors have launched a campaign to alert patients who
underwent diagnostic lung procedures during an eight-month
period.
In March, Hopkins Medicine sent more than 400 certified
letters to patients who may have been exposed to bacteria
harbored by the bronchoscopes, which are part of a national
recall by the manufacturer. Between June 1, 2001, and
February 4, the patients--many being treated for lung
cancer, HIV/AIDS, and cystic fibrosis--underwent a procedure
that allows doctors to view the inside of the lungs and
extract specimens.
A review of medical records indicates that about 100 of
the approximately 410 patients in the group have tested
positive for exposure to pseudomonas, a two- to three-fold
greater incidence than expected. Infections related to the
contaminated scopes may have contributed to the deaths from
pneumonia of two patients, according to Hopkins officials;
because of the critical nature of their illnesses, doctors
say it will be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of
death.
Pulmonologists at the hospital noted unexpected rates
of pseudomonas infections last December, prompting an
environmental review of the bronchoscopes, lab, cleaning
equipment, and procedures. No pseudomonas was found, leaving
the staff perplexed. But in late January, investigators
tried flushing fluid through the bronchoscopes in the
reverse direction from the industry standard and discovered
contamination in three of seven Olympus bronchoscopes in the
lab.
Doctors believe the contamination is related to loose
ports on the bronchoscopes, recalled by Olympus in November.
Hopkins did not become aware of the voluntary recall until
February; the letter announcing it was sent to a wrong
address at the hospital, according to news reports. The
recall was prompted by a report from another medical center
of bacterial contamination in its bronchoscopes.
Public Health
A Model Law for Uncertain
Times
For years, Lawrence Gostin pushed to bring public health law
up to date, toiling with other health policy researchers and
lawyers who worried that existing laws weren't adequate to
protect the public or provide guidance in a crisis.
But politicians didn't see it as a pressing issue. Then
came September 11, followed by the first death from anthrax
exposure. Suddenly, public health and preparedness were hot
topics.
Lawrence Gostin's moment had arrived.
"The level of interest has never been this high," says
Gostin, co-director of the Center for Law and the Public's
Health at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins Universities. "I
never thought it would happen in my lifetime."
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The Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (online at
www.publichealthlaw.net) attempts to balance the common
good with individual rights. |
At the behest of the Centers for Disease Control,
Gostin and Stephen Teret,
Bloomberg School of Public Health professor and
co-director at the Center for Law and the Public's Health,
worked with center colleagues and several national
associations to develop legislation that could serve as a
model for states to use in drawing up or revising laws
relating to public health emergencies.
In just over a month, "The Model State Emergency Health
Powers Act" was pulled together and distributed with the
blessing of the Bush administration, the CDC, and key state
organizations such as the National Governors Association,
the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
Gostin says existing laws--a patchwork that varies from
state to state--often don't address modern public health
science or the delicate balance between public safety and
individual rights. "Most laws relating to public health go
back to the early 20th century. They've changed layer by
layer, from smallpox to typhoid to TB to polio to AIDS."
The model act is meant to address public health
emergencies relating to bioterrorism and emerging infectious
diseases, with an optional "all hazards" clause for states
wishing to include chemical, nuclear, or natural
disasters.
Currently, says Gostin, almost half of the states are
considering legislation, including Maryland, New York, and
California; he believes some will pass versions of the model
act by year's end.
"Ideally, it would be nice to have uniformity and
consistency between the states, because pathogens don't know
borders," Gostin notes. Nevertheless, he says, the model act
at least provides a checklist of what topics should be
addressed, and at best will be used as a framework. To that
end, the committee drew on existing state statutes, eager to
show they weren't reinventing the wheel. Key elements
include:
Creation, by the
governor, of a public health emergency planning commission
to develop within six months a comprehensive plan for
detecting and responding to health emergencies.
Measures to beef up
the reporting and tracking of illnesses or health conditions
that may cause a public health emergency.
Guidelines for a
governor to declare a public health emergency, and
definition of a "public health authority" to assume the lead
role in an emergency.
Description of
emergency powers relating to people, from allowing the
public health authority to perform tests to determine a
diagnosis, to requiring vaccination to prevent the spread of
disease. For those refusing testing or vaccination, the act
allows quarantining or isolation.
Setting out of
specific emergency powers for property, including broad
access to and use of private buildings and health care
facilities, and the evacuation, decontamination, or
destruction of facilities that pose a health risk.
Guidelines for
addressing issues of funding, liability, compensation, and
conflicting laws.
The model act, released in October 2001, was revised in
December based on responses from legislators and public- and
private-sector groups. For example, the new draft removes
the word "compel" regarding powers to test, treat, and
vaccinate, and eliminates criminal penalties for refusing
testing or vaccination.
Still, the proposed legislation has stirred up a host
of critics: groups concerned about property and ownership
rights, privacy issues, civil liberties, vaccine safety, and
AIDS advocates who fear the law will be applied to people with
HIV.
"Our view is that most people will cooperate, but if a
person doesn't, we can't allow that person to pose a threat
to the general public," Gostin says. "We bent over backwards
for a strong emphasis on civil liberties," he adds, noting
that the model legislation often goes well beyond existing
public health laws in safeguarding patient rights and
providing legal recourse, and that it was not intended to
address endemic diseases such as AIDS, only emergencies
contained within a specific time period.
Notes Gostin, "With the focus on civil rights, liberty,
autonomy, and privacy, we've forgotten another important
American tradition, the common good, focusing on what we can
do to make people healthy." --Mary Mashburn
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Illustration by Wesley
Bedrosian |
Moments like these give testament to the quiet power of
the Master Clinician program, a January experience that
pairs Hopkins premeds with experienced physicians at Johns
Hopkins, Mercy, and Union Memorial hospitals. The goal: to
allow these aspiring doctors to discover that connecting
with patients is fundamental to the healing profession. Now
in its third year, the program is the brainchild of Ronald
Fishbein, assistant dean for preprofessional programs at
Homewood, who signed on as a premed adviser five years ago
following a long surgical career at Hopkins Hospital.
"Often, patients would come to me because a resident
hurt their feelings. The residents don't mean to, they just
never learn how to communicate with someone who is feeling
vulnerable," says Fishbein. "It is one of the most neglected
areas in medicine today."
This year, some 100 Hopkins premeds signed up to
participate in the Master Clinician program during
Intersession. Only 25 students were chosen, by lottery, for
the coveted positions. Students, singly or in pairs,
observed physicians with specialties ranging from pediatric
oncology to plastic surgery at one of the three hospitals.
In all, more than 80 physicians volunteered their time.
Says Hopkins professor of surgery Gershon Efron, who
serves as mediator for class discussions, "Even residents
and medical school students don't have this kind of
opportunity. These undergraduates are able to spend a week
observing doctor-patient relations, then we all get together
at the end of the week to discuss what they learned."
On the final Friday, a group of students met in Garland
Hall to talk about all they'd seen and heard. Efron started
the conversation on a philosophical note: "You have to know
about the human condition. Don't get lost in the science--be
a part of the world," he urged. The students were subdued at
first, but soon the recollection of the week's experiences
brought an animation and conviction to their discussion.
There were many doctors they admired--like the one who used
his sense of humor to put patients at ease--and a few they
did not. Some doctors seemed to lack sympathy and warmth,
the students said. Two young women told of a reconstructive
surgeon who simply left the room when a patient, unable to
afford the recommended procedure, began to cry. Another
harried physician tended a homeless man's leg ulcers
reluctantly and with obvious distaste. Efron encouraged the
students to think about more positive ways the situations
could have been handled.
Concluded Vinita Takiar '03, "Each doctor has his or
her own approach. When we get to observe doctor-patient
interactions, we get a taste of what it really means to be a
doctor. It's totally different from what you see in a
textbook." --JK
Humanities
A Gentle Wake-Up
Call
Excerpted from Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules
of Considerate Conduct, by P.M. Forni, co-founder of the
Johns Hopkins Civility Project, St. Martin's Press, 2002.
Rule No. 2: Acknowledge Others
Acknowledgment comes in many forms: remembering someone's
name, paying a thoughtful compliment, summarizing what was
just said for a newcomer to the conversation, holding a door
open, welcoming, thanking, and just plain saying hello. We
can't feel
gregarious every moment of our lives. And that's all right.
We can, however, do without the invisibility game.
Rule No. 9: Respect Even a Subtle "No"
Learn to recognize a "no" when it's not stated in the most
explicit of ways. If your in-laws appear less than
enthusiastic at the news that you are planning to leave your
children with them for the weekend, don't ignore their
clues. They are tactfully expressing their "No." Realize
that you may have been taking them for granted, apologize,
and make other plans.
Rule No. 16: Apologize Earnestly and Thoughtfully
Apologizing is one thing; exculpating yourself is quite
another. Don't mix the two. How many times do we hear
pseudo-apologies such as: "I'm sorry I yelled at you on the
phone. But I'm under a lot of stress these days"? This is
how a real apology sounds: "I want to apologize for yelling
at you. There is no excuse for that. I can only say that it
won't happen again."
Rule No. 18: Avoid Personal Questions
Taboo questions continue to make the rounds, kept in
business by our inexhaustible curiosity about the business
of others: Do you believe in God? How much do you make? How
old are you? Do you date? Why not? What are you seeing the
doctor for? Why haven't you married yet? Seeking permission
to ask an intrusive question doesn't make the question any
less intrusive.
Rule No. 22: Refrain From Idle Complaints
Pessimism is like deliberate trudging in the mud. When you
complain, you stick your unfortunate listeners in your own
mud and you drag them along with you for no good reason.
Tranquility, joy, and happiness are, to a large extent,
gifts we give to ourselves. There is no way to erase misery
from the face of the earth, but you can always focus on the
glory that remains. To do that, begin by letting go of
unproductive complaining.
P.M. Forni is a professor of
Romance Languages
and Literatures at Johns Hopkins. His work with the
Johns Hopkins
Civility Project was featured in "Are We a Nation of
Boors?", the cover story in the June 1998 issue of
Hopkins Magazine. --SD
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