The University of Arizona's 28-acre College of Medicine campus in downtown Phoenix.The Arizona Board of Regents closed an inquiry into the University of Arizona's two medical schools Wednesday and kept the findings secret.
The regents said in a statement "nothing ... suggests that additional board inquiry is needed." At the same time, the regents directed UA President Ann Weaver Hart to provide "coordinated business plans" for the schools.
The inquiry by an independent counsel the regents hired two months ago came after Regents President Eileen Klein said she was told of allegations of misuse of public money, ethics issues and accuracy issues in public documents. Details of those allegations were not revealed.
The regents announced in their statement that the independent counsel's report to them on the medical schools would not be made public because it is protected by attorney-client privilege.
Regents' Chairman Greg Patterson read the board's statement at a brief public session of a special regents' meeting in Phoenix Wednesday, after the board met in closed session for more than two hours.
Shortly before the regents called for the inquiry in August, a regents' committee held two public meetings to hear complaints from the Arizona Medical Association and others about turnover at UA's Phoenix medical school, including loss of its dean and a half-dozen other top administrators.
The board's direction to Hart was to provide business plans for the medical schools focusing on the roles, missions and visions for each college, distinct operational and organizational plans, financial plans, accreditation compliance, the relationship with Banner Health and other issues.
“On behalf of the Arizona Board of Regents, we are wholeheartedly committed to the continued success of the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine,” Patterson said in the prepared statement. “It is because of our strong support of this institution that we convened an independent review."
Among issues made public earlier this year about the schools and the university was a news media report that Health Sciences Senior Vice President Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia routinely used a limousine costing up to $500 a day to travel between Tucson and Phoenix.
Garcia said he did so at UA President Ann Weaver Hart's suggestion so he could work when on the road.
The two medical schools operate separately, and Garcia oversees both. After the limousine revelation, Garcia said he and his department had done nothing wrong. He said he would change his mode of transportation.
Hart in August asked the regents for an independent investigation into the allegations. She said in a statement Wednesday that she was happy with the outcome.
“I am pleased the Board of Regents has concluded its comprehensive independent review and found no grounds for additional board inquiry," the statement said. In it, Hart praised Garcia for his "vision and valuable contributions" to medical education and health care in the state.
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