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May 1, 1997

Committee examining relationship between Pitt, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center System

If you can offer insights into the relationship between Pitt and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center System (UPMCS), a new University Senate committee wants to talk with you — confidentially, if you'd prefer.

The committee is studying whether the University's academic mission is compatible with the business goals of UPMCS, which is a separate corporation from Pitt.

Senate Vice President Nathan Hershey, who chairs what he calls the "compatibility committee," said: "The idea is, there are people who would like to provide information that they believe is relevant to the charge of the compatibility committee. We want to facilitate that by allowing them to meet with small numbers of committee members at a mutually convenient time and place." Persons who wish to meet with committee members should call Hershey at 624-3117. If interviewees prefer, the committee will keep their names anonymous and arrange private meetings.

Hershey emphasized that the committee, made up of seven senior professors, doesn't have a pro or con bias about the Pitt-UPMCS relationship. The group is seeking all kinds of information — positive, negative and neutral — about the system and Pitt, he said. For example, committee members recently interviewed former Chancellor Wesley Posvar for historical background on Pitt and UPMCS.

In addition to Hershey, who is a professor of health law in the Graduate School of Public Health, the committee includes Jacob Birnberg and Carrie R. Leana of the business school, Thomas A. Medsger and Bruce S. Rabin of the medical school, Morton Coleman of social work, and Sharon Nelson-Le Gall of psychology.

— Bruce Steele


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