About Us
John M. Carethers, M.D.
John G. Searle Professor and
Chair, Department of Internal Medicine
Message From Our Chair
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Friends:
I am extremely pleased and very excited about the inauguration of 23 Internal Medicine faculty members of our department's new Clinical Excellence Society (see members elsewhere in this
newsletter). The Society recognizes something that is not easily measured, nor recognized, during our typical academic promotion process – how we take care of patients and how we interact with other caretakers during that process. Clinical excellence – the constant striving for outstanding clinical care – is the essence of what the 23 inductees exhibit. Each was nominated by their division chief, letters of recommendation were reviewed by a selection committee, and the nominees elected to the Society. This group will elect next year's class, and provide advice to the Department on clinical excellence issues. I hope that the commencement of the Clinical Excellence Society will further enhance our approach to patient care as we recognize our faculty who provide it in an outstanding way!
Our Department is a powerhouse for clinical care, research, and education at the University of Michigan. External challenges such as the federal "sequester," among others, challenge funding for what we do great here. I do want all of our faculty and staff know that we are approaching these challenges in a careful way that we hope will minimally affect individuals, and not diminish our greatness. As healthcare changes around us, including the Affordable Healthcare Act and its principle initiation during 2014, we will have to find how to deliver excellent care (and be measured by it) with more limited resources than in the past. Thus, we must adapt over time to match the external forces that are changing healthcare. I know we will meet any challenge with your input and help.
Cheers!
John M. Carethers, M.D.
John G. Searle Professor and Chair
Department of Internal Medicine
