CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – UVA Health CEO Dr. Craig Kent has resigned. That following a special meeting of the Board of Visitors on February 25, 2025, during which they were briefed on an independent counsel’s investigation into UVA Health.
It began last September, when a group of 128 anonymous UVA Physicians Group faculty members delivered a no-confidence letter to Board. In it, they accused both Kent and School of Medicine Dean Melina Kibbe of creating a culture that caused fear among faculty and compromised patient safety, demanding their removals. Among the specifics were hiring doctors with questionable quality of work, subjecting residents to harassment, excessive spending on executives instead of addressing staffing shortages, a lack of transparency on financial matters and violations of the Board of Visitors-approved code of ethics.
The Board then initiated an external review conducted by Williams & Connolly LLP, which is recognized one of the world’s premier litigation firms. It was during Tuesday’s special meeting that the Board was briefed on its review, followed by UVA President Jim Ryan accepting Kent’s resignation and offering thanks for his service to the University. Dr. Mitch Rosner, a UVA Health nephrologist, will step in as acting executive vice president for health affairs.
Last fall’s no-confidence letter and subsequent resignation is not the first time Kent has faced accusations in a letter of no confidence. In 2017, while Kent was dean of Ohio State University’s College of Medicine, 25 Internal Medicine employees submitted a no confidence letter aimed at OSU’s Wexner Medical Center CEO, Sheldon Retchin. In it, Wexner faculty took issue with Retchin’s divisive leadership style and lack of respect for the academic mission of the hospital or university. Because of it, they said, researchers were leaving due to a culture of hostility toward faculty. The group also alleged that word of the conflict was hurting recruitment.
The 7-page letter also cited Kent, asserting that as dean of the medical college, he had adopted Retchin’s leadership style, resulting in delayed physician hiring and stalled contract renegotiations with existing staff members.
Retchin vehemently denied the allegations, but resigned just days later. Kent remained at Ohio State University’s College of Medicine until 2020, when he became the CEO of UVA Health.
February 25, 2025, News Release
To the UVA Health community:
Today, the Board of Visitors and President Ryan convened for a special meeting. They were briefed on the findings from the independent counsel’s investigation into UVA Health.
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. Dr. Mitch Rosner has agreed to serve as acting Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Robert D. Hardie, Rector
James E. Ryan, President
