EDITORIAL: Salaries for College of Medicine are acceptable and reasonable compared to other schools
The salaries CMU has allotted for the dean and associate deans of the College of Medicine are both completely reasonable and responsible.
The total annual cost for the college’s administration is $1.37 million, which is less than at Michigan State University, where $1.8 million is allotted annually, and Wayne State University, where $3.44 million is spent.
The College of Medicine’s founding dean Dr. Ernest Yoder is set to make $385,000 a year — $15,000 less than WSU’s medical school Dean Valerie Parisi.
Yes, the college’s validity has been and continues to be up for debate. But given the “no turning back” nature of this pursuit, the deans’ salaries is one area where CMU is using its pocketbook wisely.
This action is paramount for a university with a budding medical school because such institutions are costly and come with a lot of moving parts.
Yoder said all the salaries are either at or below the 50th percentile range for those in similar positions at other colleges around the country. The fact salaries were kept within the 50th percentile shows the university is conscious that the College of Medicine is a work in progress.
And while Yoder is making more than University President George Ross’ annual $350,000, he also has the job of building the medical school from the ground up — a challenging task.
The four associate deans and Yoder have their hands full and, for what they will be doing, are working at a bargain price. This is a prime example of the university using funds in a way that allows it to save a few dollars here and there.
Running a medical school is costly and finding qualified people for the right price is crucial to its success. If CMU were to pay more money for the positions it would be putting more financial pressure on it than needed.
It can be debated the medical school is not in the best interest of CMU, but at least the university is taking steps to ensure the most qualified administrators are in tow.
If the university continues to take steps such as this, the medical school stands a chance to succeed.
