What UMN med school dean says about his resignation

Here's a statement by Dr. Aaron Friedman, who is resigning at the end of the year as vice president of health sciences and dean of the University of Minnesota medical school. A university spokesman sent it to me:

After three years as vice president of health sciences and dean of the Medical School, I felt the time was right for me to step down.  The numerous AHC reviews are behind us.  The Medical School strategic planning process is underway.  All of our schools are actively moving forward to position themselves well for the future. This is a great time to welcome a new leader aboard to take the AHC into this next phase.

I have been honored to be a part of an organization that is leading the way in groundbreaking research, and top quality clinical care.  I am also proud of our role in educating the next generation of health professionals for Minnesota.

One of the immediate results of this decision has been the suspension of our search for a new head of medicine.  As you know, Dr. Wes Miller has performed admirably as Nesbitt Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine since 2008.  Wes has graciously agreed to extend his term in this role through 2014.

The future looks bright for the Academic Health Center and for the Medical School. I have been lucky to work with some of the most talented and committed faculty in the country, and I know our schools will continue to uphold the highest standards.

This is a decision I needed to make, but it doesn’t mean my work here is done.  We have a lot to do in the next 11 months and I am committed to ensuring that we have a strong and smooth transition into the next phase of the AHC.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.