Dr. Craig Kent resigned as CEO of UVA Health and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs on Tuesday following an external review presented to the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors. Kent’s resignation, which was effective immediately, marked the end of his five-year tenure. Dr. Mitch Rosner, a nephrologist at UVA Health, has been appointed as interim CEO.
Dr. Kent took the helm of UVA Health in 2020, leading the system through the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing significant initiatives. His tenure included the launch of UVA Health’s first enterprise-wide strategic plan, “One Future Together: Health and Hope for All,” which aimed to make UVA Health the nation’s leading public academic health system. Kent also established the UVA Health Leadership Institute to develop future leaders and oversaw the creation of the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, a $350 million project set to open in 2026.
Under Kent’s leadership, UVA Health maintained financial stability during the pandemic and achieved top safety ratings and low patient mortality ratios. However, internal conflicts began to surface last year, culminating in a no-confidence letter from 128 faculty members in September 2024. The letter, addressed to the Board of Visitors, accused Kent and School of Medicine Dean Dr. Melina Kibbe of fostering a “culture of fear and retaliation” and “compromising patient safety.” It claimed mismanagement in clinical care, questionable hiring practices, and financial irregularities, including “fraudulent billing” practices.
In response, UVA hired the international law firm Williams & Connolly to conduct an independent investigation. The Board of Visitors received the findings in a closed session on Tuesday. While the investigation’s details were not disclosed, Kent’s immediate resignation followed the meeting. UVA President Jim Ryan accepted Kent’s resignation and thanked him for his service, but no further explanations were provided. Dr. Kibbe, who was also implicated in the no-confidence letter, remains in her position.
The resignation has raised questions about UVA Health’s internal culture and governing abilities. The Board of Visitors’ decision to accept Kent’s resignation without a public release of the investigation’s findings has left room for speculation. It remains unclear whether the external review found major issues with Kent’s leadership or if the climate of controversy itself made his role unbearable.
During Kent’s final months, UVA Health was also embroiled in a high-profile debate over youth transgender healthcare. In January, UVA Health temporarily suspended gender-affirming care for minors following an executive order from President Donald Trump banning such treatments and a directive from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. However, after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the ban, UVA Health resumed care for existing transgender youth patients. The Board of Visitors later authorized this decision while advising against taking new patients until legal clarity was reached.
This episode highlighted the political pressures facing UVA Health and tested its leadership’s resolve to balance patient care with compliance to federal and state directives. The controversy underscored the broader challenges of managing an academic medical center in a politically charged environment.
With Dr. Mitch Rosner now serving as interim CEO, UVA Health is entering a transition phase. The Board of Visitors is expected to launch a national search for a permanent CEO. The new leader will need to address internal culture concerns, restore faculty trust, and maintain momentum on key projects such as the Manning Institute of Biotechnology.
Healing divisions within UVA Health’s workforce will be critical to moving forward. While the resignation of a chief executive often signals upheaval, it also reveals an opportunity for renewal and reform. While it is uncertain how UVA Health will cope with this sudden fresh start, one thing is certain—its ability to uphold its mission of excellence in clinical care, research, and education will be under close scrutiny by all.
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