As we consider the strange case of the University of Illinois Dean of the College of Medicine, who earns $700,000 from the state while pulling in another $450,000 from Novartis, we have to ask if the disclosure process really works.
Here's is the complete Statement of Economic Interests filed by this person with the Secretary of State:
Two years ago, the Chicago Tribune wrote a story suggesting that the state's disclosure law doesn't work very well. The form above certainly seems to support this conclusion. While there is no reason to suspect that the Dean did anything wrong in filling out the form, there is also nothing on the form that would suggest the extent of his personal commitment to this company, or of the company to him.
The question remains: How can this person exercise a proper duty of care and loyalty to both institutions, not only in terms of time commitment, but also in terms of the overlapping scientific research and clinical interests of the two organizations? When will the governing body of the University act on this matter and the other conflicts of interest that have been identified in the last several weeks?
Here's is the complete Statement of Economic Interests filed by this person with the Secretary of State:
The question remains: How can this person exercise a proper duty of care and loyalty to both institutions, not only in terms of time commitment, but also in terms of the overlapping scientific research and clinical interests of the two organizations? When will the governing body of the University act on this matter and the other conflicts of interest that have been identified in the last several weeks?
From Facebook:
ReplyDeleteThose salaries blow my mind with all that is happening with healthcare costs. Citizens without healthcare, frontline employees earning 2% or no raises... I understand it's a huge responsibility to run a medical school, but to be on a pharma board as well is an injustice to his full- time employer and just seems morally wrong.
From Facebook:
ReplyDeleteWow! And primary care Internal medicine docs have to see 40 patients a day in order to make a fraction of that....sigh....
From Twitter:
ReplyDeleteMarket logic now predominates in much of academic Medicine over professional logic, UI med school is but an example.
I agree with @WillChicago. I am sure there are readers wondering why you seem to 'have it in' for UI, but if one regards this as simply the tip of the influence iceberg, it is a profound wakeup call. This influence has oozed in all around us while we weren't looking, and we wake up surrounded. This is not, repeat NOT acceptable. Will Bob Wachter and others in leadership positions rise up and demand change?
ReplyDeletenonlocal
Why did the Tribune publish the story below and is reluctant to take on your story, Paul?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-uic-chancellor-house-20131027,0,6399723,full.story
PLEASE keep pushing this issue. There is more to find. Not just at UI. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThe Salaries of the Administration at UI Hospital is just CRAZY. Students and the state tax pays for their salaries. Its OK they can increase the tuition fees again. This organization has too much FAT at the leadership level too many VICE Presidents..
ReplyDeleteOkay people.... no mystery here. Dean Azar was not appointed to the Novartis Board of Directors because he's a nice guy and good researcher. Click the link below and the reason will be obvious. Follow the money...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.millenniumparkeyecenter.com/pages/whychooseus.html
Note in the picture there are three Alcon lasers (parent company is Novartis). Add in three more surgical units at the main UIC hospital, plus Alcon is the exclusive supplier of all intraocular lenses used at the UIC hospital, PLUS a new LenSx laser (which just showed up on the loading dock one day without ever going through the OR committee - baffling everybody since it's use is not reimbursed by Medicare nor Medicaid), and the lasers in his lab, and I think you might just start to wrap your head around the situation. Novartis is well in the black on this deal!