Messages from the Executive Vice President

June 4, 2013

Updates

Colleagues,

I’m pleased to share a few updates.

General Assembly Approves Budget
The state’s biennial budget was approved by the General Assembly late yesterday. It maintains the state’s commitment to Bioscience Connecticut and reinforces Governor Malloy’s and the General Assembly’s goal of revitalizing the state’s economy. The budget includes funding for translational scientists. These recruits are central to the future of the Health Center.

The budget also continues the rescissions that were enacted earlier this year, reflecting a nearly five percent reduction in the Health Center’s annual block grant. For the short term, we must therefore continue to focus on opportunities for cost savings and revenue enhancements.

UConn Health 2020: Update
More than 1,000 people participated in the first phase of our Strategic Refresh. You identified six strong goals to steer the Health Center through the next seven years. They are listed below and are also available on Health Center Express and the UConn Health 2020 website.

• Enhance Health Care for the Citizens of Connecticut and Beyond
• Ensure Financial Integrity and Strength
• Become a World Renowned Destination for Discovery and Innovation
• Create an Environment Judged by Faculty and Staff as “The Best Place to Work”
• Enhance Population Health and Health Equity
• Prepare Graduates for Lifelong Success

New Associate Vice President, Office of Diversity and Equity
To elevate the stature of the Health Center’s Office of Diversity and Equity, I upgraded the leadership position in that area to an Associate Vice President level, reporting directly to me. I am pleased to report that, following a national search, Arnold (Al) Lizana has accepted the position and joined the Health Center last week.

Al has devoted his career to diversity and equity issues and joins us from UConn-Storrs, where he was a case manager in the Office of Diversity and Equity for the last three years. Prior to that, he served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Please join me in welcoming Al to the Health Center and thanking Carolle Andrews, the Health Center’s Chief Administrative Officer, for overseeing the Office of Diversity and Equity during the leadership transition.

Town Hall Meeting Replay
I encourage you to listen to last week’s Town Hall meeting online, available on Health Center Express. I discuss the strategic refresh, as well as respond to questions from your colleagues. Feel free to email me at evpha@uchc.edu if you have comments or additional questions.

Sincerely,

Frank M. Torti
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs
Dean, UConn School of Medicine