Dr. Danny Jacobs, president of Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), has announced his resignation, a role he has served in for over six years. According to KOIN, Dr. Jacobs cited "personal reasons" for his decision to step down. His tenure began in 2018 following a months-long search by the OHSU board of directors. With a background as a trained surgeon, Jacobs had previously held the position of executive vice president, provost, and dean of the school of medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Following the announcement of Jacobs's departure, the OHSU board of directors is considering the appointment of Nate Selden, M.D., Ph.D., as the next president of the university. In a statement obtained by OHSU News, Chad Paulson, OHSU Board Chair, conveyed that the board will deliberate on a resolution to name Dr. Selden, currently the Dean and Mario and Edith Campagna Chair of Pediatric Neurological Surgery at OHSU's School of Medicine, to the presidency, effective immediately for a term of three years, upon approval.
"He has led us through a tumultuous six years of challenges, including events that have transformed our focus and commitment to equity, compliance and safety, and a global pandemic that has substantially altered the profitability of health care systems," Paulson said, describing Jacob's tenure. "espite these headwinds, his leadership has created significant growth, change and opportunity for OHSU."
In his statement, as reported by Oregon Live, Jacobs mentioned that he was resigning "after careful consideration and for personal reasons." The nature of these personal reasons was not detailed, emphasizing the challenges faced throughout his leadership, including the implementation of critical changes at OHSU and steering the institution through the storm of a global health crisis.
