November 26, 2013

Location

Penn Tower Ballam Conference Room

Present

Drs. Baum, Goldfine, Heyner, MacGregor, Meadows, Myers, Paterson, Salcido, Rachael Berget, Victoria Mulhern and Kayvon Nikoo (FAPD)

Absent

Drs. Bloch, Broennle, Collins, Deren, Kefalides, McCarthy, Saunders and Steinberg

The meeting was called to order at 12:10 by Meadows. The (provisional) minutes of the October meeting were given to Meadows for her scrutiny.

Proceedings were initiated by Meadows introducing new Council member, Stanley Baum. He asked why ASEF and PASEF are not united. MacGregor gave a summary of the history; initially, the Medical School wanted to have a forum for discussing retirement options; this was suggested to the University Senate, who turned it down but ASEF was created within the Medical School. Two years later, seeing the success that ASEF had, the rest of the University joined in, with PASEF. Penn may be unique in having two separate organizations. Meadows commented that the two organizations have been drawing closer together, viz. the combined lunchtime seminars . Similarly, Kayvon puts PASEF announcements on the ASEF website, and everybody is invited to the retirement seminars. Additionally, the Emeriti event was combined this year. This was followed by discussion regarding the recognition of emeriti; should those who are leaving Penn for other institutions be given the same accolades as those who are in full retirement mode? The consensus was that their contributions to Penn deserve full recognition but the descriptions should be shortened.

Meadows congratulated Myers and Heidi on their production of the Emeriti party at Sweeten. It was decided that the combination ASEF/PASEF party should continue, ands that Sweeten was an excellent venue. Meadows also congratulated Rachael Berget on her new appointment at Rowan University as Director of Faculty Affairs and Educational Opportunities. We will miss her. Vicky has already posted the position for her replacement. A farewell party will be held on Dec. 12th from 3:30 – 5:30 in the Wood Room.

President's Report

Committee Structure. The questions was raised: Do we need all the existing committees? For example, the program committee could also organize the luncheons. The retirement and Headquarters Committees function ad hoc.

Service Committee is of overwhelming importance. Meadows reported that Collins would be willing to take over the service responsibility. One area is getting people to help with the physical diagnosis course and teaching. Another, that Steinberg has explored is the ability to help disenfranchised individuals to get medical help. However, retired physicians can only go to homeless shelters if accompanied by students. The visitation program for people affiliated with Penn, who were admitted to HUP requires that patients specifically request it. Currently, the committee is trying to get around this by going along with the Patient Service Committee. A further suggestion was that ASEF should provide a speakers bureau to give talks at nearby retirement communities. Meadows thought that this would be a good project for PASEF.

Other Committees

Communications

We really need one individual to assist Kayvon with the website. MacGregor said it would be helpful to have a chair or cochairs for this. Left unresolved. Baum asked if there was a benefits committee. David Balamuth, a PASEF council member is on the University Benefits committee. Members of Council have had problems with benefits that required an advocate.

Salcido explained why he had not been regularly attending the ASEF meetings; he had been pursuing an advanced degree in Executive Management at Penn. He also told the Board that Penn has a number of veterans, both in the Medical School and in the University. Penn Medicine recently had a program to honor these veterans. Salcido is on the Defense Department’s Committee on Veterans.

Council Membership

Myers told Council that we need three new members. MacGregor circulated a list of potential members and asked each member of Council to approach two Individuals.

Other Business

Anita Summers is interested in initiating a program similar to that at other universities, where faculty give courses, open to all. It requires funding from the University and Anita Summers will discuss this with Craig Carnaroli to see if the University would be interested.

Can emeriti still use the Endowed Professor name? Yes, if emeritus is included. Salcido was to go to the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) to discuss retirement programs. Instead, he sent them the Meadows PowerPoint presentation and discussed it by phone.

Spring Program

Meadows got a commitment from David Hollenbeck for a walking tour of the architectural highlights of the campus. She proposed this for the spring program. A talk by Michael Brown regarding his days at Penn was approved and will take precedence if he agrees ; Goldfine will contact him to find if he is available (It was ascertained subsequently that he is no longer a Trustee and may not be coming to Philadelphia regularly).

Respectfully submitted Susan Heyner, Ph.D. Secretary Treasurer