A working group called Setting Directions will be meeting with as many groups and individuals as possible in the months ahead to discuss the future of the Faculty of Medicine.
“We want to lead health care into the future rather than react to change,” says Dr. Rose Goldstein, who is co-chair of the working group with Dean Peter Walker. “We are asked why we are doing this when we have such strong academic and research programs? Health care is changing rapidly, and we need to plan and act now in order to be prepared for the future.”
“For example, clinical care is now team-based and multidisciplinary,” Dr. Goldstein notes. “We are relying on information technology in all aspects of medicine. Funding from governments and other agencies is changing dramatically. And add to that questions regarding student enrolment and balancing the emphasis between generalist vs. specialist and you have many questions to answer when planning for our future.”
The Setting Directions working group has been meeting monthly since April 2003. It is planning presentations at departmental meetings and town hall sessions. The group will also be meeting with external stakeholders, including affiliated health care organizations, governments and community leaders.
