Med School to lobby for state money

Medical School officials said yesterday they are unfazed by Gov. Robert Casey's announced budget cut last month and will help the University lobby for the return of funding. Frederic Burg, vice dean for education at the Medical School, said the school is disappointed by the proposed cut, but added that administrators will not allow the possible loss of funds to affect the quality of research, education and public service. "[The proposed cut] is a signal from the government that it does not value flagship programs," Burg said. "It is a very great disappointment from a medical educator's point of view, that the governor of this great state would cut medical funding. This is an institution that Plato said a society should be founded upon." Earlier this month, Casey proposed cutting all state aid to the University and other private institutions for fiscal year 1993, leaving the University with a possible $37 million gap in its budget for next year. Burg said he views Casey's budget proposal as a challenge to the Medical School that the administrators must meet with hard planning. "The Medical School prides itself on its ability to cope with challenges," Burg said. "Any well-led organization should have the creative capability to deal with fiscal problems." Burg said the Medical School has a responsibility to the community, the state and the nation, being that it is one of America's leading medical institutions. "We are presently modeling responses to the cut," Burg said. "We can't be deterred to meet our obligation." Burg explained that the obligations of the Medical School include quality patient service and research. He said that the school will conduct lobbying efforts in Harrisburg. But according to Mike Nardone, who coordinates government relations for the Medical Center, lobbying Harrisburg legislators may be difficult. "It will be a difficult fight," Nardone said. "There is a feeling this is going to be a tight budget year." Nardone first said that cutting funds to state aided institutions would be "consistent" with Casey's policy, noting that last year, the Medical School received less funding than in the past. But Nardone added that the proposed cuts are "not that consistent" because they are much more significant. He maintained that there is not enough funding being directed to new programs. "Government proposed state aid really took a hit," Nardone said. Nevertheless, Nardone said that the Medical School will work hard to "restore funds," pointing to last year's lobbying effort and stating that it had been "fairly active." Last year, Casey proposed cutting state aid to the University in half, but state legislators returned full funding after severe lobbying efforts by University officials. Meanwhile, Nardone said that the lobbying effort will be a "first priority" and that the Medical School is going to "fight hard."

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