Professor Steven W. Cheung, MD, will conclude a two-year term as the Chair of the UCSF Academic Senate on August 31, 2023.
A noteworthy accomplishment during Dr. Cheung's tenure as UCSF Senate Chair and Presidential Search Committee Advisor to the Regents was the successful recruitment of Michael Drake, MD, as President of the UC System. Dr. Drake is an inspiration to physicians who wish to transform their careers from health care delivery to higher education leadership.
Several other recent accomplishments of the Academic Senate are advancing gender equity by identifying and exercising actionable items, strengthening shared governance with campus and UCSF Health leaders through intentional engagement, stewarding the Computational Precision Program and Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Nursing Practice Program proposals to timely systemwide approval and delivering financial assistance to principal investigators who face unexpected budget gaps following recent agreements with graduate student and postdoctoral scholar bargaining units.
Works in progress include Human Resources faculty friendly procedures to recruit and hire staff, Human Research Protection Program overhaul to reduce backlogs and mitigate bottlenecks of IRB applications and the Chancellor's Bridge Funding Program modification in its next 5-year cycle to serve better the needs of faculty, particularly those deeply impacted by COVID.
Dr. Cheung ascended to this leadership role by serving as a regular member on half a dozen Standing Committees and later as Chair of the Committee on Committees, Academic Planning and Budget and Faculty Welfare before being elected as the Academic Senate Vice Chair in 2019.
Dr. Cheung has encouraged OHNS faculty participation in the Academic Senate, notably the service of Andrea Hasenstaub, PhD (member, Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools), Jennifer Grandis, MD (chair, Academic Planning and Budget), José Gurrola II, MD (chair, Education Policy), Young-Wook Jun, PhD (member, Graduate Council), Steven Pletcher, MD (vice chair, Privilege and Tenure), and VyVy Young, MD (member, University Committee on Education Policy).
The Academic Senate has delegated authority bestowed by the UC Regents on matters of faculty advancements and promotions, curricula, degrees, and admissions. The Academic Senate also serves as the voice of the faculty in its advisory role on matters of budget priorities, faculty welfare, compensation, postemployment benefits and outside academic and clinical affiliations. Faculty in the Ladder Rank, in Residence and Clinical X Professor series are voting members of the Academic Senate.
Dr. Cheung was also recently elected to the University of California Academic Assembly to serve as Vice Chair and Chair of the UC Systemwide Senate.
Congratulations to Dr. Cheung on all of his accomplishments during his tenure on the Academic Senate and we're excited for your next steps!
This article was originally published in the Spring 2023 edition of "HeadsUp!" You can read more articles from the publication here.
