Amid major financial losses, officials at Detroit-based Wayne State University School of Medicine have warned faculty members that their unproductive habits will no longer be tolerated, according to Crain's Detroit Business.
Approximately 527 faculty members received a letter written by Jack Sobel, MD, dean of the medical school, and David Hefner, Wayne State's vice president for health affairs.
"Too many of our faculty [members] have been unproductive for many years. They have been allowed to consume needed resources totaling many millions of dollars," Dr. Sobel and Mr. Hefner wrote in the letter.
"Unproductive faculty members seriously limit the school's ability to attract additional talent to advance our education, research and clinical missions. This places an unfair burden on productive faculty and impedes our ability to build a bright future for all," they added, according to the report.
Wayne State University School of Medicine is currently facing a $1.5 million monthly deficit. Last December, the medical school and its affiliates posted a loss of $29 million for fiscal year 2015.
Mr. Hefner claimed between 60 and 80 faculty members have been categorized as unproductive. He and Dr. Sobel are asking them to boost their research products and increase the number of patients they see, according to the report.
Wayne State University School of Medicine is also examining other ways to improve its financial status, including working to improve its relationship with Detroit Medical Center.