Spring 2010 Dean's Update

Mark Meyers
Dean of College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education

Do you remember the song by Herman’s Hermits entitled, "Henry VIII?"The song’s famous line was "second verse, same as the first." I mention this song because the current discussion about health care reform in our country makes me feel as though we are in the middle of that second verse, but it is a repeat of the first.

Much discussion about health care, along with accusations and threats, has taken place since the health care bill passed, but does this new policy change the core of the health care system? Very little has actually changed, though I am afraid some attitudes have. I have heard various people discussing the need for business leaders to “fix the health care mess.” This particular verse is something I have heard previously in my career, but in reference to the education system.

Many believed success-ful businessmen with no experience in education should be put into struggling school systems to implement programs that would make them operate like a business. It was thought that this would fix the school systems almost instantaneously. In actuality, few schools improved, many did not and there was no visible change in the actual system.

Why would our country try to solve an entirely different problem with a similar, unsuccessful solution? The health care system can only improve if we take a more active leadership role. This means we need to become advocates for health care, not just internally, but externally as well. We need to properly train the next generation of health care leaders if true, substantive change is going to take place.

Health care must progress in order to survive. Think of the healthcare profession as a sailing ship. Are you being an anchor or a breeze?