I hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend. So far, the weather has cooperated. We’re going to the Phillies-Nationals game this afternoon to introduce our grandson to the wonders of baseball and to the mobile Phillies nation. I hope we’re not in a sun field; the temperature is expected to reach 95 degrees!
For many of us, last week was all about our External Advisory Board (EAB) meeting. It was exhilarating, exhausting, enlightening and incredibly helpful. As many of you know, the EAB is a reformulated body based upon our prior External Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC). However, more than the name has changed. We deliberately retained some members of our old ESAC, such as Joe Pagano (the former ESAC chair) and Stan Gerson (now chair of the EAB). We then brought on new advisors whose expertise is ideally suited to our areas of scientific focus and turned over some former ESAC members with thanks for the service they have provided to us.
The goal of this EAB meeting was a bit different than the prior ESAC meetings. We were looking for specific input regarding our scientific programs, focusing a bit less on our shared resources and administrative aspects of the cancer center. Basically, I felt that we simply must get the programs right – with respect to their structures, leadership and areas of scientific focus.
To accomplish this, we employed an unusual and generally well-received meeting format.
On Wednesday morning, I gave a general overview and then introduced our programs. I then substituted for Craig Jordan to provide an overview of the process we had employed to evaluate our programs. Craig was disabled by a recent back injury, and actually underwent successful surgery the following day at GUH. I saw him on Friday, and he was walking the halls, accompanied by a nurse and his family. I am sure you join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
After this introductory segment was completed, we then had five simultaneous four-hour breakout sessions, one for each CCSG program. Two or three EAB members were assigned to each program’s breakout, and got an in-depth look at those programs through presentations by many of our scientists. I bounced among them, and was very pleased by the vibrant discussions, insightful comments and general excitement at each session. We then reconvened to discuss cross-cutting initiatives and administrative issues, and then adjourned for the day. Informal discussions followed at dinner, and a very long day ended for me at about 11 pm.
On Thursday morning we started around 8 am, and then each program leader gave a 15-minute program overview that incorporated comments and ideas from Wednesday’s breakout sessions. Each presentation was followed by feedback from the specific EAB members assigned to each program then by a more general discussion. We also discussed the status of clinical research and clinical research oversight. Finally, I had a private session with the EAB to get their more general recommendations.
This was the best and most informative EAB meeting I have ever attended. We have an extraordinary group of advisors who provided immensely valuable feedback and constructive suggestions. I can tell you that our science was very well received and there is no question that we are making significant progress as we move towards a competitive renewal of our CCSG.
We will extensively debrief over the next few weeks to incorporate the EAB’s recommendations as we await its formal written report. I hope to rapidly introduce joint program retreats to facilitate collaborations among all members, and I think that each program should invite one of its external advisors in on a yearly basis for an in-depth review of the program.
Thanks to everyone who helped make the EAB meeting a success.
Before I go, I also wish to congratulate Beth Peshkin and Kevin FitzGerald, who have been awarded the medical center’s CIRCLE Grant to develop a pilot curriculum on genomic medicine for SOM students. They hope to expand the existing SOM curriculum to encompass clinical aspects of genetic and genomic medicine– and to better prepare next generation of physicians to integrate genomics medicine into their routine clinical practice. I look forward to following their progress.