Governor Brewer announces Arizona Medical Education Oversight Task Force

Group to Make Recommendations, Ensure Broad Support for Future of Arizona’s Academic Medical Center

PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer today announced the members of the Arizona Medical Education Oversight Task Force.  The purpose of the Task Force is to develop the governance, vision and structure to ensure Arizona has a world-class academic medical center that also serves as a strong clinical health system.

 

The Task Force will look to build upon the strengths of the merger of the University Medical Center and University Physicians Healthcare, and the continued partnership with the University of Arizona College of Medicine (UA COM) to expand medical research investment, enhance medical education and improve the quality of care for Arizonans.

“I established this Task Force to ensure that policymakers, business and community leaders, and the citizens of Arizona have the opportunity to understand and contribute to the decision-making process surrounding the future of this important community resource,” said Governor Brewer.

Consistent with the Executive Order, the Task Force will conduct an analysis of the structure of the academic medical center, provide a public forum for discussion and make recommendations to the Governor regarding the future direction of the institution.  During the course of its discussions, the Task Force is expected to call upon the state’s medical experts and others with demonstrated experience and interest in the academic medical center’s operations, as the success of this facility will have a broad impact upon both the public and private sectors.

“As a University of Arizona alumnus with two degrees, it is an honor to be involved in an opportunity to establish Arizona as the leader of a world-class academic medical center,” said Richard Silverman, chairman of the Medical Task Force.  “I look forward to working collaboratively with the higher education and health care communities.”

The Task Force will consist of representatives from UA Healthcare, UA COM, and ABOR, as well as community, business, health care safety net, and private health care leaders appointed by the Governor. Also to serve on the Task Force will be the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives and President of the State Senate, or their designees.

“I look forward to working with other state leaders to define the best path forward for our academic medical center,” said Rick Myers, task force vice chairman. “Creating a modern approach and strong foundation for outstanding medical education, research and patient care is what the citizens of our state expect and deserve."

Members of the Medical Task Force include:

·       Richard Silverman, Chairman - General Manager, Salt River Project – Board member of community organizations such as the University of Arizona Foundation, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Board, Arizona Community Foundation and the Translational Genomics Research Institute

·       Rick Myers, Vice Chairman – Chief Operating Officer of Critical Path Institute and member of the Arizona Board of Regents – Civic leader in Tucson and across the state serving as a member of the Tucson Airport Authority, is a current member and past chairman of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and a past board member of Science Foundation Arizona

·       Betsy Bayless - President and CEO of Maricopa Integrated Health System – Leads the state’s only public hospital system, working with a Board of Directors who represents the Maricopa County Special Health Care district. She is a former Secretary of State and is active in community service. She is a member of the Greater Phoenix Leadership and numerous Boards of Directors.

·       Steve Goldschmid, MD – Dean, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Voted in “Best Doctors in America” for 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He is a Fellow with the American College of Physicians and American College of Gastroenterology and a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and American Gastroenterology Association.

·       Joe Higgins – Entrepreneur, Tucson Community Leader and Support of Local Charities – Founding President of Catholic Community Services Foundation, Past member Executive Committee Catholic Community Services, Saints Peter and Paul School Board, Foothills Sertoma

·       Chris Monson – Principal, Aberdeen Group – Owner of a private warehouse storage company in Tucson; Advisory Board member of Junior Achievement of Arizona, Inc. – Southern District Board of Directors 2010-2011; Southern Arizona Leadership Council member

·       Granger Vinall – Board Chair UAHealthcare – Entrepreneur, Leadership and Management Experience; Board Member, University Physicians Healthcare, Inc.   

Governor Brewer has asked that subject matter experts serve as ex-officio members of the Task Force. These members will lend additional expertise in key areas such as public health, hospital rates and reimbursements and the greater role an academic medical center should play in regional economic development.

Subject matter experts selected thus far, include:

·       Tom Betlach, Director, AHCCCS

·       Patrick Soon-Shiong, Executive Chairman and CEO, Abraxis Health

·       Sandy Gibson, Executive Vice President-Internal Operations of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

·       Ron Shoopman, President, Southern Arizona Leadership Council

·       Joe Snell, President and CEO, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc.

A strong collaboration between UAH and UA COM will improve opportunities for medical education in Tucson and Phoenix and increase medical research that will lead to additional federal research investment and improvements in the delivery of health care to patients.

Balancing teaching, medical research and patient care is critical to preserving the mission of the academic medical center, and conducting each of these functions in the most efficient and effective manner possible is imperative. In order to drive improvements in quality of care and cost containment, a highly effective medical center must be prepared for the changes in health care delivery that are necessary to ensure the sustainability of Arizona’s health care system.

        The Arizona Medical Education Oversight Task Force was created on April 29, 2011, by Executive Order and is a result of policy discussions related to HB 2067.