Oregon Health & Science University President Danny Jacobs has stepped down citing personal reasons, late on the same day that a former dean filed a $6.2 million lawsuit accusing the school and Jacobs of engaging in a cover-up while making the ex-dean the fall guy.
The OHSU Board of Directors had planned to replace him immediately in a meeting today, one day after his departure was announced, but now Gov. Tina Kotek has urged members to slow down.
“The Governor believes the timeline put forward to appoint a new president compromises the future of the institution and that it would be a mistake to push through a decision of this magnitude without appropriate due diligence,” according to a statement released by her office.
While the timing of Jacobs' announcement may be coincidental, it perhaps could represent a fitting end of the rocky tenure of the leader of the public teaching hospital and health system. Jacobs has endured numerous controversies over the course of six years.
“After careful consideration and for personal reasons, I have informed Board Chair Chad Paulson of my intent to resign as president, effective upon the appointment of a successor. I have shared my recommendations on succession planning with him and fully intend to stay engaged in an advisory role during the transition,” Jacobs said in a prepared statement released by the university. “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to serve OHSU and the state of Oregon. My wife, Nancy, and I wish everyone the best of all things for the future.”
On Friday, Oct 25, the OHSU board of directors will consider whether to appoint Dr. Nate Selden, OHSU School of Medicine Dean and Mario and Edith Campagna Chair of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, to a three-year term succeeding Jacobs.
Earlier in the day, David Jacoby, the former dean of the School of Medicine, sued the university for removing him as dean and making “false and defamatory” statements about Jacoby to falsely accuse him for failing to handle the up-skirt photo scandal that racked the school early this year.
The suit portrays Jacobs as playing a central role in covering up for the people who'd actually mishandled student complaints. It says Jacoby was falsely blamed for giving a $46,000 bonus to the doctor who took the photos, when it was actually Jacobs who approved it.
An outside consultant’s report eventually blamed Jacobs for unfairly faulting Jacoby.
