Med Center establishes new board

The move is a "seamless transition" that eliminates Strong Memorial Hospital's Board of Governors and creates a new Medical Center Board that will govern the Medical Center and its components: Strong Memorial Hospital, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, and the University Medical Faculty Practice Group.

Those who were members of the SMH Board of Governors will remain as members of the new Medical Center Board.

Chair of the new board is Ronald B. Knight, vice president of staff operations for Xerox Corporation's Production Systems Group. He replaces C. William Brown, who had chaired the SMH Board of Governors. Vice chairs of the new board are John R. Horvath, Robert H. Gutkin and John L. Wehle, Jr.

In his remarks upon accepting the position as chairman, Knight described how the new Board will benefit the Medical Center: "In order to become a great academic medical center, we must achieve synergy, and that can come about only if we function as one organization, not several. The key elements of the Medical Center must work together toward one set of common goals, and the creation of this new Board will help make that happen."

Knight observed that while good academic medical centers train doctors and nurses and treat patients, "great centers are leaders in producing knowledge that cures diseases and in providing world class patient care."

"The University is fortunate to have Ron Knight leading this new Medical Center Board," said President Thomas H. Jackson. "He will bring to the board the same dedication and hard work that he has shown as a member of the University of Rochester Board of Trustees and a member of the Strong Memorial Hospital Board of Governors."