USC School of Medicine

A Record Of Accomplishment, A Vision For The Future

A Message from Larry R. Faulkner, M.D. Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean

This is a challenging time in medicine and medical education. Some have even called it a time of crisis. I believe that in crisis there is opportunity -- opportunity to reexamine one's current position and to plan a strategic approach to meet the challenge.

The USC School of Medicine is well positioned to embark upon such a strategic approach. The School's accomplishments to date are impressive, and they will stand us in good stead as we prepare for the future.

• We are fulfilling our promise to the state of South Carolina. Our graduates are practicing in the specialties and locations where they are needed at rates much higher than for most medical schools.
• For a young, community-based medical school, we have established a credible research agenda that can form a solid foundation for new initiatives.
• We have developed a successful clinical practice in the Midlands that can help us meet the challenge of managed care.
• We have an effective administrative structure and a balanced budget -- no small achievement in the modern era of medical education.
• We are part of South Carolina's Flagship university, with an administration that is dedicated to growth and development.

We have accomplished a tremendous amount in a short time. With this record of past success, what is our vision for the future? Where are we going and how will we get there? How best do we continue to fulfill our motto, "A Promise in Practice"? I believe that our vision should focus on six primary themes.

• First, we will Educate For Practice. We must continue to develop our educational programs in a manner that clearly establishes the USC School of Medicine as one of the most successful and progressive primary care educational institutions in the Southeast.
• Second, we will Research What We Practice. We must focus research priorities and develop research infrastructure to support the needs of the citizens of South Carolina and our health care delivery system.
• Third, we will Practice What We Teach. Our clinical service delivery must be focused on those areas that enable us to thrive in the era of managed care.
• Fourth, we will Practice Leadership. In a health care education, research, and service delivery system that grows more complex daily, we must develop our programs in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration that address not just our own needs but those of the entire state.
• Fifth, we will Practice Responsibility. In a time of fiscal restraint, our credibility depends upon our willingness to reexamine our structure and function and to strive for the most effective and efficient utilization of limited resources.
• Sixth, we will Educate About Our Practice. The fact that we are in many ways one of the "best kept secrets" in the state must be addressed with a process that informs South Carolinians about our record of accomplishments.

Our vision is complex, and fulfilling it will be no easy task. It will require not just planning, but also the dedication and hard work of faculty, staff, and students. I am confident of our ultimate success, however, because these are the characteristics that have brought us so far in such a short time. Working together, we will ensure that this vision becomes a reality.