With a serious merger in progress, Portland-based Oregon Well being & Science College’s board of administrators on Monday authorized a decision to nominate Steve Stadum, J.D., interim president of the educational well being heart, efficient Tuesday.
Stadum is a former OHSU chief with 20-plus years’ expertise main organizations on the intersection of healthcare, training, analysis and enterprise.
OHSU and Legacy Well being are working to unite as one well being system known as OHSU Well being in a merger deal that was introduced in August 2023. The mixed system could have 12 hospitals, 100-plus areas and about 30,000 workers and greater than 3 million affected person visits a yr.
OHSU is a part of the State of Oregon, established in Oregon regulation as a public company. Legacy is an area, nonprofit well being system that had been struggled financially, based on information stories.
After becoming a member of OHSU in 1999, Stadum served in a number of management roles, together with basic counsel, chief administration officer and company secretary, government vp and, lastly, chief working officer for the OHSU Knight Most cancers Institute. In 2016, Stadum moved to Fred Hutch Most cancers Middle in Seattle, the place he held the positions of government vp and chief working officer, chief integration officer and, lastly, particular adviser to the director, till his retirement in September 2024.
Stadum is changing President Danny Jacobs, M.D., who not too long ago introduced he has determined to step down. As Oregon Public Media reported, “throughout his tenure, Jacobs led OHSU by way of a collection of main disruptions: the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2021 investigation into the college well being system’s tradition that discovered it was permissive of discrimination and harassment, and, extra not too long ago, rising labor prices and monetary headwinds. OHSU laid off greater than 400 workers over the summer season.”
Gov. Tina Kotek’s Govt Appointments group will assist OHSU put collectively the search committee that can lead the recruitment course of for a everlasting president.
“OHSU is a vital establishment to our state, as a serious healthcare supplier, employer, and chief in scientific and tutorial innovation,” Kotek mentioned, in a press release. “A robust, collaborative, chief is crucial to OHSU’s success, and I commend the Board for embarking on a nationwide recruitment for the following long-term president. I’m grateful to Dr. Jacobs for his years of service and want to thank Mr. Stadum for agreeing to serve whereas the search is underway.”
“The method for choosing OHSU’s everlasting president might be appropriately vigorous, guided by our values and embrace broad enter,” mentioned Board President Chad Paulson, J.D., in a press release.
In a press release, Stadum mentioned he acknowledges the gravity of this second for OHSU. “The stress our neighborhood is feeling amid uncertainty and important change inside our college is compounded by the stress and anxiousness that’s broadly felt by many throughout election season and culminating at present on Election Day.” He famous in a separate commentary, that “whatever the end result, OHSU stands resolute in its values, and won’t waver from our responsibility and accountability in supporting the well being and well-being of individuals in Oregon and past.”
