April 28, 2017

Dear Colleagues of the University of Utah Health Sciences Community,

I am writing to let you know that I have decided to step down from my roles as
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Dean of the Medical School, and CEO
of the University Health Care system here at the University of Utah. This is
effective today. Over the past six years, as part of our exceptionally dedicated and
talented team, I have worked as hard as I could to carry forward the mission of our
entire health sciences community and of the University. Taking account of the
events of the last two weeks, I believe the best interests of the University are now
served by the decision I am taking today.

It has been a profound honor to serve in such an extraordinary organization.

Thanks to the sterling efforts of every one of you, and building on the work and
inspiration of all who came before, we are now collectively in a very strong and
exciting position. This is symbolized in our physical environment by the beautiful
new Ray and Tye Noorda Oral Health Sciences dental school building; new clinics
from South Jordan/Daybreak to Farmington open and operating; the new
Huntsman Cancer Institute research building which will open this summer thanks
to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation; and plans and fundraising for a new Medical
School Building, a new Ambulatory Care Center, a new Rehabilitation Hospital,
and a new Innovation and Discovery Center well on track. Research initiatives
extend from global health to the neurosciences, from health services research to
the Utah Genome Project, and from personalized to population health and beyond.
Major advances have taken place in the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, and
Health, the School of Dentistry, and throughout the entire School of Medicine. We
have moved forward strongly in our focus on student and professional trainee
experience, patient satisfaction and patient-centered culture, physician wellness
and engagement, and high quality and high value carewith the University of
Utah Hospitals and Clinics again ranked #1 across all U.S. academic medical
centers in quality and safety.

We should not permit the events of the past two weeks to divert us from our
fundamental mission, and with my decision today, I believe our entire community
can readily return to its vital focus on health sciences, health care, education, and
service.
I know full well that many wonderful friends and colleagues are rightly upset, and
that others are at least very puzzled, by recent events. I deeply regret this and
give my apologies to all. I am aware too that more than a few have felt there
should be some sort of reply to the very strong criticisms of leadership and
actions, directed especially at me. This absence is not because of a lack of
strongly held alternative viewpoints and substantive positions, but rather a clear
sense that the best interests of our University and of our entire community are to
collegially embrace one another and all move forward together. I am delighted to
see that this is already happening. The installation of the new interim leadership
taking over in my roles, whose appointment President Pershing will soon
announce, will be another important step forward.

In a more private way, it is fair to say that some of the strong invective directed at
my integrity and character, which was carried in the news media over the past two
weeks, has been disturbing, especially to the younger members of our family in
this close-knit community in Utah we have come to call home. I am hoping my
decision today will help in putting that completely in the past.

I step now into a period of personal transition, focused on the improvement and
transformation of healthcare, future callings and pathways, and above all, the joy
and miracle of family. I believe our entire University of Utah team of colleagues,
community supporters, and friends are spectacularly positioned for a bright and
rising future.

Thank you all.

Vivian S. Lee