Dzau envisions culture built on values, leaders
By: Matt Johnson
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
Last update: 4/18/08 at 7:30 AM EST
Last update: 4/18/08 at 7:30 AM EST
We need to adapt our curriculum to the needs and opportunities of the 21st century. Everyone recognizes that the health care environment is changing dramatically, and doctors need to know a lot more than just diseases and diagnoses. I want our students to be great leaders in the future. We created a residency in global health, and I'm thinking about applying that model to a residency for M.D./MBAs that can give contemporaneous experience in clinical work and management. I see students graduating with M.D./MBAs and I say, "Why shouldn't we create a pathway for them and have more leaders retained in health care versus going to consulting or venture work?" I'm an accidental leader; I didn't train to be one, but I think others could be properly trained.
C: What challenges do you see facing DUHS in the future?
D: Within the health system the challenge is going to be to continue integrating all the components. I'd like to see much better alignment with the health system and the Private Diagnostic Clinic. That's going to be difficult, but I'm very encouraged by the leadership of the PDC. There's been a lot of effort on their side. They have gone out and visited other health systems and looked at how that relationship is. It's difficult because there's a long history and we have to put a lot of effort into building trust, but I think we'll get there.
My belief is that reimbursement [from insurance companies and government health programs] has been getting worse and worse, and we expect reimbursement to continue to decline. Everyone knows the cost of health care is going up, and it must come down. I would hope sincerely that our next [national] president is going to take this on. I won't mind if we have to tighten our belt for the good of the country. It would make my job a little more difficult, but maybe more satisfying because we now know we can deliver care to more people who need it.
C: What challenges do you see facing DUHS in the future?
D: Within the health system the challenge is going to be to continue integrating all the components. I'd like to see much better alignment with the health system and the Private Diagnostic Clinic. That's going to be difficult, but I'm very encouraged by the leadership of the PDC. There's been a lot of effort on their side. They have gone out and visited other health systems and looked at how that relationship is. It's difficult because there's a long history and we have to put a lot of effort into building trust, but I think we'll get there.
My belief is that reimbursement [from insurance companies and government health programs] has been getting worse and worse, and we expect reimbursement to continue to decline. Everyone knows the cost of health care is going up, and it must come down. I would hope sincerely that our next [national] president is going to take this on. I won't mind if we have to tighten our belt for the good of the country. It would make my job a little more difficult, but maybe more satisfying because we now know we can deliver care to more people who need it.
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