A Statement from Barbara Atkinson, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor, KU Medical Center
Executive Dean, KU School of Medicine

March 19, 2007

I want to congratulate Irene on this opportunity and wish her all the best in her advancement to CEO of the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). As talented people are always in demand, the UHC is lucky to have someone with Irene's track record of financial success. Under her leadership over the last eleven years, The University of Kansas Hospital has transformed itself from a struggling state hospital to a thriving, clinical enterprise with enviable new facilities to meet growing patient needs. It has become one of the state's greatest assets, and as an academic medical center, we are poised to take a significant health care and research leadership role in this region due in part to the hospital's success.

I, along with my senior leadership team, look forward to reaching an agreement with Irene and the hospital leadership regarding expanded hospital affiliations very soon.   We pledge to continue our good-faith negotiations on an affiliation agreement and stand ready to help facilitate a smooth transition by working with the hospital’s designated successor to move forward as a unified academic medical center and to ensure our collective, long-term success.