Craig Kent, CEO of UVA Health, resigned Feb. 25 after the Board of Visitors and University of Virginia President Jim Ryan reviewed the findings of an independent counsel’s investigation into allegations against Kent and Melina Kibbe, dean of the UVA School of Medicine.
Kent’s resignation took place after a special meeting, according to a message from UVA Rector Robert D. Hardie and President Ryan, sent to UVA Health employees and School of Medicine faculty. The message was forwarded to Charlottesville Tomorrow by a UVA spokesperson.
According to The Cavalier Daily, 128 UVA doctors and faculty members signed a letter of no confidence that was sent to UVA leadership in September 2024. The letter accused Kent and Kibbe of fostering a “negative environment,” “using explicit and implicit threats and retaliation,” and compromising patient safety.
The letter prompted UVA to hire Williams & Connolly, a D.C.-based litigation firm, to investigate the allegations, according to WVTF.
The firm’s findings were presented to the Board and President Ryan on Feb. 25 during the special meeting.
“Following the meeting, Dr. Craig Kent offered, and President Ryan accepted, his resignation. The Board and the President thank Dr. Kent for his years of service to the University,” read the message to UVA Health staff and School of Medicine faculty.
The Williams & Connolly report is unlikely to be released to the public, as UVA officials told The Daily Progress in September 2024 that it would only be delivered to Ryan and the Board of Visitors.
The letter of no confidence, which was posted in full by The Cavalier Daily, went on to accuse Kent and Kibbe of prioritizing spending funds on executive positions over addressing clinical staff shortages, overlooking fraud and misconduct in billing and records and intimidating staff when they raised concerns.
“Many faculty, doctors, nurses and staff who have shared these legitimate concerns have been silenced, intimidated, and/or punished for following recommended UVA reporting protocols,” the letter read. “For over a year, these concerns and egregious acts were reported via U.Va.’s official reporting processes … we sign this letter of no confidence as a last resort out of urgent concern for our patients, colleagues, community and the University of Virginia.”
President Ryan dismissed the letter last year, saying it was based on anonymous claims from a few “dissatisfied” employees, according to a report from The Daily Progress.
According to Hardie and Ryan’s message, Mitch Rosner, chair of the Department of Medicine, has agreed to serve as acting Executive Vice President for Health Affairs.
Take Action
Craig Kent, CEO of UVA Health, resigned Feb. 25 after the Board of Visitors and University of Virginia President Jim Ryan reviewed the findings of an independent counsel’s investigation into allegations against Kent and Melina Kibbe, dean of the UVA School of Medicine.
Do you know more about the findings of the report? Have any experiences with UVA Health or relevant insights to this developing story? Contact us here.
While we can’t cover every story that’s important to you, we do our best to be responsive to your needs. We use tips from readers to choose which stories to cover, to incorporate information into broader reports or to help us decide how to grow Charlottesville Tomorrow. Here’s where you can tell us what you think we should be covering.
More on UVA Health
UVA Board of Visitors votes to allow some gender-affirming care for patients under 19
The Board of Visitors passed a resolution that existing patients under the age of 19 can continue to receive gender-affirming care, but new patients will be referred elsewhere.
Federal policy change hits UVA’s medical research funding
The National Institutes of Health abruptly released new guidelines that will lead to reduced research funding at UVA and other institutions across the country.
UVA Health dismissing 121 employees for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19
As of this week, UVA Health has fired 64 employees and suspended without pay 18 more for refusing to receive a COVID vaccine. An additional 39 have resigned. Of those 121 people, two are doctors and 38 are nurses. Health system officials said they have already hired either new or temporary nurses and staff to replace the exiting workers. “I will say our teams have been very proactive and understanding that there will be some impact,” said Kathy Baker, UVA Health’s chief nursing officer. “So we have planned for that impact and have brought on additional resources in anticipation that…
More local News
Have an opinion on the Dominion–NextEra merger? Share it with your elected officials on Sept. 14
The $67 billion deal has generated scrutiny from consumer advocates and lawmakers about potential increases to Virginia residents’ electric bills.
Take this five-minute survey to help shape Charlottesville Tomorrow’s reporting
Our newsroom wants to better understand your local news and information needs.
‘Most people won’t know what happened here’: stories of loss and uncertainty emerge after Free Bridge encampment clearing
While the clearing of the Free Bridge encampment may have appeared orderly, residents reported stolen belongings and some lost everything they owned in a fire.
Six days before a low-barrier shelter is scheduled to open, Charlottesville makes an agreement with the company that will operate it
The 2000 Holiday Drive shelter will open the same day the city says it will clear an encampment of dozens of unhoused people on the Rivanna River.
Anyone can take this survey to weigh in on UVA’s future
UVA is seeking input from its community and its central Virginia neighbors as it plans the university’s future.
