Dean Steven Gabbe, M.D., speaks at the Spring Faculty Meeting. (photo by Neil Brake)
Meeting showcases VUSM’s success
The crowd of faculty and staff members gives Dean Steven Gabbe, M.D., a standing ovation after his remarks. (photo by Neil Brake)
Dean Steven Gabbe, M.D., talks with his wife, Pat Temple, M.D., before the meeting. (photo by Neil Brake)
On April 23, at the Spring Faculty Meeting, Dean Steven Gabbe, M.D., recapped the school's accomplishments over his seven years as dean, and the crowd reached a clear conclusion.
Mission accomplished.
Gabbe's speech showcased the key areas in VUSM's outstanding progress — growth and rankings, new facilities and programs, and most important, people.
“We've grown substantially. Since 2001, our faculty has increased from nearly 1,200 full-time faculty to just less than 1,900,” Gabbe said. “Women now make up one-third of the faculty, and we have increased the number of faculty underrepresented in medicine from 46 to 94.
“We have a lot more dollars flowing through the School of Medicine,” he continued.
VUSM's budget has more than doubled, from just over $348 million to more than $766 million. Support from the National Institutes of Health has risen from $108 million to more than $282 million, placing VUSM 10th in research funding.
“That's a remarkable success during difficult times,” Gabbe said, noting that federal funding to the NIH has remained flat for nearly a decade.
The tough NIH landscape has not slowed VUSM faculty. According to the national Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, Vanderbilt faculty are among the country's most productive, placing seventh among 166 large research universities.
Individual departments excelled within that ranking, including Pharmacology (first), Neuroscience (second), Genetics and Physiology (third).
Student numbers have also risen in seven years. The Class of 2012 boasts 5,032 applications — the largest number in a decade. “One student out of every eight who applies to medical school in this country applies to Vanderbilt,” Gabbe said.
The number of women in the incoming class equals the number of men. The class includes 10 underrepresented minorities, up from just one in 2001. The mean MCAT score is currently 11.5, while the GPA is 3.8.
New academic departments include Biostatistics, Cardiac Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, and Hearing and Speech Sciences. Thirteen new assistant and associate deans have joined VUSM, along with 13 new department chairs.
Fifteen new research institutes or centers have flourished and eight new degrees are offered, including a joint Ph.D./M.B.A. and an M.D./Ph.D. in Clinical and Translational Research.
In 2007, a new curriculum was launched for first-year medical students, with a new second-year curriculum to debut in fall 2008. Earlier changes in third- and fourth-year medical curriculum have proved successful.
VUSM has also added Medical Research Buildings III and IV, the Institute for Imaging Sciences, a new anatomy lab, and the $5.5 million Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment.
When Gabbe became dean of the School of Medicine in 2001, he set a goal for VUSM to place 10th in U.S. News and World Report rankings by 2010 — or “10 by 10.”
“So what about 10 by 10?” Gabbe asked. “Are we there? Well, we ranked 16th when I came, and we're still ranked 16th.”
He paused for comic effect, then deadpanned, “That's why I'm leaving.”
After the laughter subsided, Gabbe ran the numbers. While VUSM ranked 16th in the most recent U.S. News ranking, it placed fifth in faculty-student ratio, sixth in GPA, 11th in MCAT, 12th in residency director assessment and 13th in peer assessment — all key factors in the overall ranking.
“I think we've made it, whether U.S. News does or not,” Gabbe declared.
An avid music lover, Gabbe ended his speech with slides showing scenes from his life and years at Vanderbilt, accomanied by the Dolly Parton song “I Will Always Love You.”