NU Board of Regents install interim board at Nebraska Medicine amid investigation
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is replacing the Board of Directors at Nebraska Medicine after its actions regarding the $800 million acquisition of Clarkson Regional Health Services’ stake are under investigation by the state Attorney General.
The Regents stated on Thursday that they had installed an interim “representative” Board composed of seasoned health care executives, six physicians, and leading community members.
“The University of Nebraska Board of Regents and Clarkson Regional Health Services Board have serious concerns about recent actions and behavior by the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors, including actions that have threatened critically important mission-driven strategic initiatives,” the regents said in the statement.
This comes after Nebraska Medicine filed a lawsuit to try to prevent the Board of Regents from buying Clarkson’s stake. The legal action came one day after the Regents unanimously voted to continue pursuing sole membership of Nebraska Medicine.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska Medicine taking legal action to curb Board of Regents’ $800M acquisition
Effective immediately, the members of the Board of Directors at Nebaska Medicine will be:
VOTING MEMBERS
- Dr. Dele Davies (Chairman) – Interim Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and past Nebraska Medicine board member
- William Lydiatt – CEO of Clarkson Regional Health Services and retired surgeon
- Stephanie Moline – Current board member at Clarkson, retired executive vice president at First National Bank
- Dr. Jeffrey Gold – NU System President, inaugural board chair of Nebraska Medicine, and UNMC Chancellor for more than 10 years
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
- Dean, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Chief of Staff of the Nebraska Medical Center medical staff
- Chief Nursing Officer, Nebraska Medicine
- Chair of Surgery of the College of Medicine of the University of Nebraska Medical Center
According to the Regents, Nebraska Medicine will have its own physician-led board and governance structure once this transaction is closed.
The Regents said it was intended to keep the Nebraska Medicine Board of Directors intact throughout the purchase process, but the recent actions forced their hand.
“While it was the original intent of both the University Board of Regents and the Clarkson Regional Health Services Board to complete their transformative transaction without making any changes to former Nebraska Medicine’s Board, they have since determined that this action was necessary to protect the organization’s reputation, stability, and future, and to ensure it can continue to fulfill its charitable mission effectively long into the future,” the Regents said in the statement.
The statement continued, “The newly formed interim Board will assume the governance oversight of Nebraska Medicine, while the management will continue to lead day-to-day operations of the truly world-class academic medical center. The University and Clarkson have confidence in the leadership team and the excellent staff’s ability to continue to provide the same high-quality care that patients of Nebraska Medicine have come to expect.”
To formalize this action, the Regents and the Clarkson board filed articles of incorporation amendments with the Nebraska Secretary of State on Thursday, and the Secretary’s office has accepted the amendments.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska Board of Regents approve plan to buyout Clarkson Health from Nebraska Medicine
