“We are committed to ensuring that the physician voice is well-represented in all aspects of our operations.”

Exciting Developments for Clinical Faculty

The Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple Faculty Physicians Town Hall, led by Claire Raab, MD, CEO of Temple Faculty Physicians and Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, serves as a pivotal forum to address key developments and initiatives within our institution.

The leadership team is dedicated to fostering an environment of transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring that everyone is well-informed and engaged in our collective mission.

TFP STRATEGIC GOALS FY25

• Rapid Provider Growth: TFP has grown from 450 providers in FY21 to about 700 in FY25, with year-over-year growth in office staffing. TFP is experiencing a sustained annual visit volume increase of 5%, with provider growth projected to rise 10% this year—driven by improved retention and strategic hiring of Advanced Practice Providers.

• Expand Ambulatory Footprint: High ED use demands that we expand access to preventative and ambulatory care. New locations and expanded spaces include sub-leasing space in a former Rite Aid for a multi-disciplinary clinic with 15-20 rooms; moving our Family/Community Medicine department to the ground floor of the Zion Baptist Church; expanding space at Jeanes in the POB; leasing space on Chestnut Hill Avenue for 15-20 multidisciplinary rooms; utilizing clinic space at Temple Women & Families; and constructing a new Medical Office Building.

• Build Ambulatory Quality & Safety Infrastructure: TFP CMO Dr. Esme Singer will meet with departments to help identify meaningful outpatient metrics. We also will work together to define and identify ambulatory events reportable in Midas to ensure complete safety reporting and appropriate benchmarking.

• Improve Faculty & Staff Experience: As TFP grows, we want to make sure that faculty and staff concerns are fully heard and that the reasons for changes are fairly and clearly considered. Concerns identified in the Faculty Engagement Survey include ability to disengage from work, leadership and communication, clinic operations, safety and quality. We are partnering with Katz and our hospitals as we work hard to address these concerns collaboratively. Improvements this year include increased staffing, use of Ambient AI to assist with notes in Epic, and increased transparency and responsiveness to provide needed information timely.

KATZ UPDATE

LCME Accreditation: Document was submitted in December, site visit took place April 6-9 (we did really well), and the final report is expected this Fall.

Strategic Plan: Inspiring Excellence, our school’s strategic plan was developed to align with and complement the strategic plans of other Temple entities, ensuring cohesion and shared priorities across our academic medical center and university. The strategic plan is available on our website. Seven active work groups are developing strategic initiatives and tactics.

Leadership appointments:

• Gretchen Diemer, MD: Senior Associate Dean of Education
• Dan Edmundowicz, MD: Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
• Andrew Sanderson, MD: Associate Dean, Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Match Day 2025:

• 98.5% of our students matched; 27 states represented
• 74 students matched in PA
• 24 students matched at Temple Health hospitals
• Top 3 specialties: internal medicine, general surgery, family medicine

 

Faculty Mentor Scholarly Experience 2025: This is the first year that every student was expected to have some scholarly experience with a faculty mentor. Inaugural capstone symposium was held on 4/4; projects ranged from case reports to basic research to community engagement and clinical research.

 

Staying Informed and Engaged: We are communicating daily with the University and Health System about how the threatened federal research funding cuts could affect our Temple family and communities. TU President John Fry has been very communicative, and we will continue pass that info along and engage with the broader academic medical community. President Fry said: “One thing that will remain the same is Temple’s mission of access, opportunity, engagement, and discovery.”

 

TUH INC. UPDATE

 

Guest presenter

Abhinav Rastogi, MBA, MIS

Executive Vice President, Temple University Health System

President and Chief Executive Officer, Temple University Hospital, Inc.

New Expanded Services: We are investing in our hospitals. We’ve made over $150 million in capital improvements across the Health System in the last 3 years, including:

• TUH-Episcopal Campus: Emergency Department and Crisis Response Center expansion, Retail Pharmacy

• TUH-Jeanes Campus: Emergency Department expansion, Cardiac Cath Lab, Observation unit, Pulmonary Function Lab
• Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital: Infusion Center, new service lines: ophthalmology, thoracic, vascular, neurology, FCCC surgical oncology, FCCC breast
• Women & Families Campus: New home for Labor and Delivery opening summer 2025, Operating rooms opening 5/12. To be invited to Executive Steering Committee meetings, please email Christina.Stoner@tuhs.temple.edu. Please visit the Resource page on the Hub for the latest information.

Temple University Hospital, Inc. Quality Achievements:

• Main Campus earned its 9th Safety Grade ‘A’ from Leapfrog since 2020
• Jeanes has earned its 4th Safety Grade ‘A’ from Leapfrog since 2020
• Named to Healthgrades 2025 America’s Best Hospitals list
• Recognized by Healthgrades as a 2024 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ recipient
• You’re the reason we’ve earned these national recognitions

 

Watch a recording of the Town Hall Session here.

 

Original Post Date: May 6, 2025

Katz’s LCME visit is next week, from April 7-9—and it’s our moment to shine. From curriculum to community, Katz is ready to show who we are. 

Want to show your Katz pride? 
Post a photo or message about what makes Katz special to you and tag @katztemplemed on Instagram or X to receive a Katz giveaway! Use #KatzLCMEReady to show your support! 

🦉 Final Hooter Alert: He’s hiding one last time. 

Welcome Class of 2027 to your resource page on the portal.

Be professional. Be prepared. Be yourself.
 The LCME site visit is just around the corner (April 7–9), and this week we’re sharing exactly what to expect—and what to say if you’re asked a question.

✅ Quick Tips for LCME Conversations:

• Arrive 30 minutes early to official meetings. (Late entry isn’t allowed.)
• Stick to what you know—don’t guess or speculate.
• If you don’t understand a question, it’s okay to ask for clarification.
• Speak confidently, stay fact-based, and remember: there are no trick questions.

💬 “What Would You Say?” Sample Responses

🔹 How does Katz support student wellness?
 📢 "Katz offers a range of wellness resources including on-campus counseling, peer support programs, and wellness initiatives. These were expanded based on student feedback through the ISA."
 💡 This shows you’re aware of resources and how student input led to improvements.

🔹 How do faculty participate in decision-making?
 📢 "Faculty serve on key committees like curriculum and admissions, helping shape our educational programs."
 💡 Even if you’re not on a committee, this shows you understand how governance works.

🔹 What if I don’t know the answer to something?
 📢 "I’m not sure of the exact details, but I know Katz has a process for that. I can direct you to the right person or resource."
 💡 It’s okay to say you don’t know—just show awareness and professionalism.

🔹 How does Katz ensure clinical experience requirements are met?
 📢 "Katz tracks clinical experiences to make sure we meet LCME requirements. If we don’t encounter a case, alternatives are provided."
 💡 This reflects your awareness of academic standards and support systems.

🔹 How has Katz responded to student feedback?
 📢 "Through CQI, Katz has improved study space, wellness resources, and career advising based on student feedback from the ISA."
 💡 This shows Katz is responsive and always improving.

✅ Final Tip:

Be yourself, stay grounded in your experience, and know that the LCME team is here to understand how Katz supports its students and faculty.

🦉 Hooter Has Moved Again!

He’s now hiding in the FAQs section of the LCME Accreditation Hub. Can you find him?
 🔍 Find Hooter + Read FAQs