PHILADELPHIA --- A new leadership team has been named for the University of Pennsylvania Health System, according to an announcement today (Feb. 17) by University President Judith Rodin.

She said that Peter G. Traber, M.D., chair of the department of medicine, has agreed to become the interim dean of the School of Medicine and CEO of the Medical Center and the Health System until "...we undertake a thorough, formal search for permanent leadership."

Dr. Traber will take the place of William N. Kelley, M.D., who has been dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center and its Health System for the past decade. Dr. Kelley, who will remain a distinguished member of the faculty of the School of Medicine, also has been asked by the University, in his role as Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, to take on "a vital and expanded role in the increasingly complex and volatile realm of national health care policy that has had such a pervasive impact on UPHS and other academic medical centers across the country," Dr. Rodin said. She said that Dr. Kelley is still considering this important new assignment.

Dr. Traber will report to Dr. Rodin and Provost Robert L. Barchi, M.D., Ph.D., and "...exercise the same full authority over Health System operations that Bill Kelley has in the past," Dr. Rodin said. Dr. Traber, the Frank Wister Thomas Professor of Medicine, is "an exceptional researcher and clinician whose knowledge of UPHS is broad and deep," she said. "He has our full confidence."

Assisting Dr. Traber will be Arthur K. Asbury, M.D., the Van Meter Emeritus Professor of Neurology, who has agreed to assume the position of deputy dean of the School of Medicine. A member of the Penn faculty since 1974, Dr. Asbury has been a senior vice dean of the School of Medicine, past chair of the department of neurology and acting dean of the School of Medicine and acting executive vice president of the Medical Center.

Dr. Rodin added that Robert Martin will continue as chief operating officer of the Health System, "...and we will continue to rely heavily on the great talent, judgment and energy he has demonstrated so clearly over the past year."

The University also confirmed that David Hunter, president and CEO of the Hunter Group, has agreed to provide "...regular advice and consultation as UPHS continues to implement its rigorous remediation plan."

Dr. Rodin emphasized that the change is being made to provide the best possible leadership team for the Health System as it faces the challenges of the present and the future.

"Academic medical centers like ours face enormous financial challenges today," Dr. Rodin said. "This is not a time of expansion. Rather, it is a time requiring integration, tight fiscal management and a highly strategic focus on investments.

"I am delighted that after looking closely within our Health System, we found the members of a new leadership team that will provide the very strong direction we need," she said. "The Health System is full of hundreds of world-class faculty, researchers and hospital staff. We are fortunate to have such a great wealth of talent to draw on.

"The Health System continues to face serious challenges in the days and months ahead," Dr. Rodin said. "We are confident," she said, "that Drs. Traber and Asbury, Mr. Martin, the clinical chairs and the many talented men and women in the Health System management group will provide the best combination of skills to accomplish our goals and ensure a bright future."