Main description:

During his fifteen years as chancellor, Dr. Ralph Snyderman helped create new paradigms for academic medicine while guiding the Duke University Medical Center through periods of great challenge and transformation. Under his leadership, the medical center became internationally known for its innovations in medicine, including the creation of the Duke University Health System-which became a model for integrated health care delivery-and the development of personalized health care based on a rational and compassionate model of care. In A Chancellor's Tale Snyderman reflects on his role in developing and instituting these changes.
Beginning his faculty career at Duke in 1972, Snyderman made major contributions to inflammation research while leading the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology. When he became chancellor in 1989, he learned that Duke's medical center required bold new capabilities to survive the advent of managed care and HMOs. The need to change spurred creativity, but it also generated strong resistance.
Among his many achievements, Snyderman led ambitious institutional growth in research and clinical care, broadened clinical research and collaborations between academics and industry, and spurred the fields of integrative and personalized medicine. Snyderman describes how he immersed himself in all aspects of Duke's medical enterprise as evidenced by his exercise in "following the sheet" from the patient's room to the laundry facilities and back, which allowed him to meet staff throughout the hospital. Upon discovering that temperatures in the laundry facilities were over 110 degrees he had air conditioning installed. He also implemented programs to help employees gain needed skills to advance. Snyderman discusses the necessity for strategic planning, fund-raising, and media relations and the relationship between the medical center and Duke University. He concludes with advice for current and future academic medical center administrators.
The fascinating story of Snyderman's career shines a bright light on the importance of leadership, organization, planning, and innovation in a medical and academic environment while highlighting the systemic changes in academic medicine and American health care over the last half century. A Chancellor's Tale will be required reading for those interested in academic medicine, health care, administrative and leadership positions, and the history of Duke University.

Contents:

Foreword / Darrell G. Kirch, MD vii
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Part I. The Journey
1. From Brooklyn to Duke 9
2. History of the Academic Medical Center 14
3. Evolution of the Duke University Medical Center 22
4. Learning the Business 33
5. Getting Down to Business 43
6. Reconstruction 56
7. Fighting for Renewal 77
8. A New Beginning 99
Part II. Major Initiatives
9. Enhancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations 123
10. Duke Clinical Research Institute 130
11. Duke University Health System 138
12. Integrative Medicine 156
13. Personalizing Health Care 175
Part III. Relationships, Leadership, and Lessons
14. Philanthropy and Relationships 189
15. Reputation and Crisis 203
16. Stepping Down and Lessons Learned 221
Epilogue 229
Appendixes 233
Notes 263
Additional Resources 267
Index 271