JIM RYAN’S RECENT NBC29 INTERVIEW
A letter sent from our doctors 2/3/25 to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors.
A letter sent from our doctors February 3, 2025 via TheTruthAboutUVAHealth.com:
Dear Colleagues,
We write you regarding two very different messages from UVA’s leadership that both happened to occur on January 24, 2025.
On the one hand, Michael Kennedy delivered the following statement from Rachel Sheridan and Porter Wilkinson to the UVA Faculty Senate:
As many of you know from Rector Robert Hardie's letter earlier this week, Williams & Connolly's independent investigation is now nearing completion. For those of you who have not had a chance to read Rector Hardie's letter, we encourage you to do so as it provides fulsome updates on the very thorough process that has been and is taking place.
To provide one further update to that note, we wanted to share that the special Board meeting will be scheduled for February 25. The special meeting will allow for Williams & Connolly to share its findings ahead of the regularly scheduled Board meeting on March 6, during which we anticipate there will be further discussion. The Board is committed to evaluating the results of the investigation with the utmost care and consideration, and will take appropriate actions guided by our commitment to the long-term success of the Health System.
As the investigation now enters the final stages of what has been an exhaustive and intensive process, we want to thank the many doctors and staff who have participated in the investigation. We are grateful for their time and energy.
On the other hand, NBC29 published an interview with Jim Ryan in which he repeated the talking points from his September 7, 2024 letter to the School of Medicine faculty, diminishing the concerns of 128 faculty who signed the Letter of No Confidence in Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe by contrasting them to the total number of UVA physician faculty.
It bears noting that the “1400 faculty at the medical school” to whom he refers elected the Faculty Senate representatives who voted overwhelmingly to support their colleagues and make their position known to Jim Ryan in the School of Medicine and Medical Center Resolution on October 24, 2024.
The following letter was sent to the Board of Visitors today in response to Jim Ryan’s recent public comments:
February 3, 2025
To: The Rector and Board of Visitors University of Virginia
Robert D. Hardie
Carlos M. Brown
Robert M. Blue
Daniel M. Brody
U. Bertram Ellis Jr.
Marvin W. Gilliam Jr.
The Hon. Paul C. Harris
Stephen P. Long, MD
Paul B. Manning
John L. Nau III
David O. Okonkwo, MD
The Hon. L.F. Payne
Amanda L. Pillion
Rachel W. Sheridan
David F. Webb
Douglas D. Wetmore
Porter N. Wilkinson
Michael J. Kennedy
Lisa R. KopelnikCc: University of Virginia Peer-elected faculty leaders
Stephen H. Culp, MD
James H. Lambert
Michael Ragosta III, MD
Jeri K. Seidman
Megan C. Tracci, MD, JDRe: Jim Ryan's Recent NBC29 Interview
Jim Ryan’s comments in a filmed interview published by NBC29 on January 24, 2025 deflecting from serious issues and publicly disparaging the signers of the September 5, 2024 Letter of No Confidence in Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe were a sickening display of his failed leadership:
“I think it’s also important to put it into context. I mean there are 1400 faculty at the medical school, and 128 signed the letter. Which is not to say there aren’t more beyond those that signed the letter, but I think there are a lot of people, I know that there are a lot of people in the health system, who have very favorable views of leadership.”
With the results of the UVA Board of Visitors' investigation imminent, it is unconscionable that the president of our university used a media appearance to once again attempt to convince the public the central issue is whether leadership is viewed favorably, and that 128 UVA School of Medicine faculty and doctors can be dismissed out of hand.
As we are all aware, Williams & Connolly is not conducting an independent investigation to determine if UVA Health's leadership is popular. They have been made aware of serious issues including patient safety, patient deaths, abuse, retaliation, coercion to commit fraud, gross mismanagement, and an ongoing and accelerating exodus of critical talent. Jim Ryan was repeatedly made aware of many of these issues dating back to 2020 via emails, letters, and meetings with respected UVA faculty and prominent members of our Charlottesville community—proof of which has been provided to Williams & Connolly.
The damage to morale that Jim Ryan has caused with his comments is immeasurable.
We will take any steps necessary to protect and restore the integrity of UVA Health, defend our reputations and those of our colleagues, and ensure all the facts become known.
- Concerned UVA Health Physicians & UVA School of Medicine Faculty
What is going on at UVA Health?
We are Concerned Citizens of Charlottesville and Patients of UVA Health who are troubled by what we have heard from many UVA Health professionals for almost two years.
These professionals are not only our doctors and nurses but also our friends, family and neighbors. We believe our community should value and protect its health care workers who have dedicated their lives to helping UVA patients.
A Parrhesiastes is someone who speaks the truth in a clear and honest way…
It's about the courage to speak one’s mind even when it's difficult or unpopular…to prioritize truth over social niceties or personal gain...
But speaking the truth can be dangerous. A Parrhesiastes understands this risk and is willing to face the consequences, from social disapproval to vindictive employers or even violence...
Because ultimately Parrhesiastes act out of a sense of duty.
They believe speaking the truth is necessary for the greater good and to protect the people and institution they love.