UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH ESTABLISHES NATION'S FIRST ENDOWED CHAIR IN PATIENT CARE

PITTSBURGH, May 20 -- The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has established what is believed to be the nation's first endowed chair in any medical school focused on the patient-doctor relationship and patient-centered care. A national search will be conducted to identify the physician who will hold the newly created Leo H. Criep, M.D., Chair in Patient Care.

"In this era characterized more by 'high-tech' than 'high-touch' health care, the need to nurture good doctor-patient communication has become glaringly apparent," said Thomas Detre, M.D., Pitt's senior vice chancellor for health sciences. "Years ago, Leo Criep came to my office to express his profound concern about the need to listen to the patient--and to listen carefully. This chair puts renewed emphasis on one of our core values defining the doctor-patient relationship as a critical element of high quality health care."

"The establishment of this chair is another example of the University of Pittsburgh's leadership in medical education," Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said. "This will enable us to continue to build on the strengths of the innovative, patient-centered curriculum in our School of Medicine and serve as a model of medical education that is built around the highest standards of patient care. It is a special honor to have the University's name so closely associated with that of Dr. Leo Criep, a man who embodied the concern and empathy for patients that we are committed to instilling in every one of our medical students."

The $1.5 million chair is endowed largely through gifts from the Criep family, UPMC Health System, the University's department of medicine, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh and community leaders who have served on the endowment committee. The chair is named for the late Leo H. Criep, M.D., a nationally recognized pioneer in immunology and Distinguished University Professor in the School of Medicine who maintained a keen interest in the nature of the physician-patient relationship, to which he contributed through his writing, mentoring and commitment of personal resources.

"We established this chair to address the deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship in today's technology-based, bottom-line oriented health care system," stated Susan Santa Cruz, daughter of the late Dr. Criep.

Less than half of people surveyed in a 1991 American Medical Association poll on health care issues felt that doctors usually explain things well to their patients. In the same survey, fewer than a third of individuals polled felt that doctors spend enough time with their patients, and nearly 70 percent said that people are beginning to lose faith in their physicians.

"The participation of the UPMC Health System in this endeavor reflects our ongoing dedication to the principle that the patient receives the best quality care available," said Jeffrey Romoff, president, UPMC Health System. "The Leo H. Criep, M.D., Chair will provide significant and important recognition to excellence in patient-doctor relationships, which is at the very core of our mission."

"A positive doctor-patient relationship is a vital building block of medical practice," noted Loren Roth, M.D., associate senior vice chancellor, Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, and senior vice president, Medical Services, UPMC Health System. "Good physicians empathize and identify with the patient's plight while maintaining objectivity about the disease process and how best to intervene."

The individual chosen to become the Criep Professor will be a physician who is creative and farsighted in his/her approach to the focus on humanism in medicine, according to Dr. Detre.

"We are looking for someone who inspires others to improve patient care; minimize patient risk, pain and suffering, and provide care for patients in all stages of health and disease," said Leo H. Criep, Jr., M.D., the late Dr. Criep's son. "This exceptional person also must be committed to transmitting these values to the next generation of doctors through teaching, writing and personal example, much as my father did."

The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Health System continue to recognize the importance of medical care that focuses on patient needs. The School of Medicine initiated its patient-centered curriculum in 1992, and for the past four years the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute has recognized physician leaders in the care of cancer patients with the Leo H. Criep, M.D., Excellence in Patient Care Award.

"This chair will be the capstone to the School of Medicine's emphasis on humanistic values in all of its undertakings, including educating medical students, providing direct patient care and conducting clinical research," added Dr. Detre. The Criep Professor will hold his/her appointment in the Department of Medicine of the School of Medicine.

Members of the public interested in receiving further information about the Leo H. Criep, M.D., Chair in Patient Care or on helping to fund this effort, should contact Margaret C. McDonald, 816 Scaife Hall, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261; phone (412) 383-7474; fax (412) 383-7381.

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