PORTLAND, Ore. — The board of directors for Oregon Health & Science University approved a resolution Monday appointing an interim president, selecting Steve Sadum, J.D. He'll take on the role effective Tuesday.
Outgoing president Dr. Danny Jacobs resigned late last month. While he pledged to stay on in an advisory role, his sudden retirement left a leadership vacuum during a pivotal time as OHSU attempts a major merger with Legacy Health Systems.
Jacobs led OHSU for a turbulent six-year term. His contract was renewed in 2023 under a cloud of controversy. In 2020, the results of an eight-month investigation into OHSU's workplace culture found that there was "a significant amount of work to do," and this summer, OHSU announced layoffs amid ongoing financial struggles.
Initially, the OHSU board announced its immediate intent to appoint Dr. Nate Selden, dean of OHSU's School of Medicine, to the office of president for a three-year term, claiming he would bring much-needed stability to the university. But within days, the board back-tracked on that decision.
While the reason for the change wasn't immediately clear, Gov. Tina Kotek indicated that she opposed the immediate choice of Selden, saying the timeline put forward by the board "compromises the future of the institution," adding that "it would be a mistake to push through a decision of this magnitude without appropriate due diligence."
On Friday, a week after the board's reversal, Kotek and OHSU released a joint statement saying that the board intended to appoint Stadum interim president instead of Selden, and with no three-year term. Instead, they said that Kotek's office would be aiding OHSU in searching for a permanent president.
“OHSU is a critical institution to our state, as a major health care provider, employer, and leader in scientific and academic innovation,” Governor Kotek said. “A strong, collaborative, leader is imperative to OHSU’s success, and I commend the board for embarking on a national recruitment for the next long-term president. I am grateful to Dr. Jacobs for his years of service and would like to thank Mr. Stadum for agreeing to serve while the search is underway.”
The board voted Monday to approve a resolution formally appointing Stadum interim president. In a brief update, OHSU said the process for finding a permanent replacement for Jacobs would be "appropriately vigorous, guided by OHSU's values, and will include broad input from its community."
“We appreciate the governor’s support as we recruit the next president of Oregon’s academic health center,” said Chad Paulson, J.D., Chair of the OHSU Board of Directors. “Mr. Stadum understands OHSU’s unique role in Oregon, educating the next generation of our health care workforce, developing and providing lifesaving therapies for the most vulnerable Oregonians, and supporting nationally and internationally accomplished research and health care professionals. He has the practical knowledge and skills to lead teams, improve processes and implement strategy within the complex world of health care, research and education delivery, and as interim president will help ensure critical initiatives remain on track.”
Stadum's background is primarily in administration and law rather than medicine, though he has a long history with the university. He started at OHSU in 1999, serving over the years as general counsel, chief administration officer and corporate secretary, executive vice president and then chief operating officer for the Knight Cancer Institute.
Stadum left OHSU for the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle back in 2016, again moving through a variety of administrative roles before retiring in September 2024.
The Portland Business Journal contributed to this report.
