This week's issue of Crain's Business Detroit published a guest opinion by Jack D. Sobel, M.D., dean of the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

The piece focuses on the need for the school to address the issue of unproductive faculty.

The column is reprinted below in its entirety.

Wayne State med school must forge ahead

In November 2015, Crain's published an article about a financial deficit facing Wayne State University's School of Medicine and the Wayne State University Physician Group. At that time, I wrote an op-ed piece stating that the problem was long-standing and was discovered internally, and that although it would require tough decisions and significant changes over time, the problem would be resolved. I also indicated that this signaled a new era of accountability for the School of Medicine and the university, and a golden opportunity to reposition within the quickly evolving health care landscape.

Since then, we have been hard at work. As we continue to examine and develop solutions to address our finances, the time has come for us to confront an issue of underproductive faculty. Most of our faculty are outstanding, but too many are not doing enough. A systematic, data-driven analysis has identified members of the faculty we intend to address through processes, up to and including separation from Wayne State University.

We define unproductive faculty members as those who have not met the lowest of bars when it comes to applying for and receiving grants, publishing papers and/or providing patient care.

Sadly, too many members of our faculty have been underproductive for many years, draining the School of Medicine and university of needed resources totaling many millions of dollars. We cannot allow these valuable resources to be provided to individuals who are not significantly advancing our mission.

Previous administrations may have tolerated underproductive faculty, but in conjunction with the transparency and accountability established under university President M. Roy Wilson and his administration, that time is over. This is a new era, both for the School of Medicine and the university.

Let me be clear. This issue is about what is right and what is wrong -- not labor and tenure, as many would have you believe.

Underproductive faculty members use resources that would be far better spent promoting talented, ambitious faculty who are advancing knowledge, educating our future doctors, and caring for our patients. Supporting people who are not contributing to the advancement of medicine or the medical school impedes our ability to build a bright future for all.

We have communicated with faculty union leadership who are aware of this issue and have discussed it openly and frankly in campus presentations and communications. The School of Medicine administration has also presented the issue to the university's board of governors.

Faculty members who have been identified as unproductive will be sent letters notifying them of that fact, and advising them of the next steps to be taken.

Moving forward, our resources will be strategically redirected and invested in the labs and output of productive faculty.

This is a challenging time. Addressing this situation will require action and resolve from our leadership, and President Wilson is leading the way with his firm example and demand for accountability. Challenging times can also be viewed as opportunities, however, and we are confident that in seizing this opportunity, the School of Medicine will emerge stronger and better positioned for the future.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160306/BLOG200/303069978/wayne-state-med-school-must-forge-ahead