Illinois Medicine

Robert A. Barish, MD, MBA, left a position as chancellor for the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport to become the newly established vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago at the beginning of this year. He oversees UIC's seven health science colleges, respective regional campuses, and affiliated health sites such as the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. What were the major successes and new directions during your time at LSU? We recruited 35 faculty members including several chairs from all over the country. We addressed the importance of philanthropy by developing a database of alumni. We successfully went through accreditation both with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools during the same year. And finally, as a major, Level 1 Trauma Center, we brought the community together for an "Evening for Heroes," where we honored police, paramedics, helicopter pilots, nurses, physicians and therapists who saved lives. How did that experience prepare you for the University of Illinois? It was a good training ground. There's nothing I've seen here at UIC that I wasn't prepared for— nothing that's surprised me. For example, the financial issues in Louisiana mirrored the situation here in Illinois. We dealt with 16 or 18 state budget cuts, yet despite that we grew the medical school. How will your newly defined role as vice chancellor for health affairs change the UI Health system dynamic for the better? For the College of Medicine and other health science colleges, my office can help facilitate collaborative efforts around issues like health population management. I see myself as being a resource for deans plus their incredibly talented faculty and staff. Since this position has changed, with a vice chancellor for health affairs reporting to the chancellor, you have alignment under unified leadership among the delivery system and all the schools. We can combine the tremendous intellectual capital of all seven schools and the health system. What are your priorities and plans for enhancing patient care, research and teaching? I firmly believe that we can be a national leader in health equity. With the input of these seven health science colleges, UIC can lead the nation in defining, implementing and testing new methods and models of care as well as developing interprofessional education, research and clinical care models. We have tremendous areas of strength that we want to grow. We care for special populations of the underserved and special needs of the entire population. This campus has a very noble mission. People really love this place. We need to celebrate our successes. As they say in Louisiana, we need to brag on ourselves a little more. How did your experience leading medical care in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina impact you? I've been to many areas in my life with wars or conflicts, but I had never seen a natural disaster. You realize the power of a hurricane, and what it can do. I never thought New Orleans would come back, but it's a tribute to the resilience of the people who rebuilt the city and parishes. It's a tribute to the people of the state. What I gave, I got back ten-fold in understanding the lives and culture of people whose society had been destroyed. Q A 5 QUESTIONS 1 2 3 4 5 P H O T O : D I A N E S M U T N Y

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