A day or two (or three or more) before Dr. Callender’s message about the You Count survey and the upcoming Town Hall meeting, there were questions and rumblings in the rumor mill: ”Big vision, big plans, big changes. What would those changes be, and why, and when?”
And then the campus message went out, and it said “new organizational structure” and people said “Aha!—there it is.” But what is IT? More importantly for many of us on the front line, why is it? How will it affect me? How will it make UTMB stronger and my job better? All questions to be answered at the Town Hall, and I can’t think of a better source for the information than Dr. Callender himself, next week. My sense is a lot of careful thought and past experience have gone into this issue, and I’m optimistic and excited about our future. I hope you can be in Levin Hall on Feb. 20 or catch the meeting and discussion in some other form or fashion.
I heard a concern rolled in among those mutterings and rumblings in the mill, one meriting an inquiry on our collective behalf. The answer enables me to share with you what the changes and the meeting are NOT about. I heard it emphatically from leadership: “Reorganization” is not code for a reduction in workforce, not code for layoffs, not code for carving up or casting off large groups of people. If you are losing sleep over this notion, you can nod off peacefully this evening.
And if you have questions of your own you’d like considered at the Town Hall, you can ask it online. Send them in early to get them in the queue. Good night.