CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – WINA chief legal analyst and former UVA general counsel Tim Heaphy says the University of Virginia needs to address the concerns of the 128 faculty “no confidence” petitioners in short order. The petitioners are demanding the resignation of the Dean of the School of Medicine and UVA Health Chief of Health Affairs Melina Kibbe, as well as UVA Health CEO and UVA Executive Vice President of Health Affairs Craig Kent. Heaphy told WINA’s Morning News there are problems on both sides, and the University needs an independent panel to investigate.
“If it were me, I think you get a group of physicians from other medical centers who are objective to evaluate the facts. The facts need to be the guiding force for the way forward here,” Heaphy said.

First, the fact that the 128 faculty petitioners only want to reveal themselves to 4 of the 19 members of the Board of Visitors is problematic. Second, letters from Jim Ryan and UVA Health Board Member William Crutchfield don’t serve the situation well as physicians will not come forward if they’re fearful. Heaphy pointed out patients who are coming to UVA for surgeries might see this letter exchange and question if they want to be treated there. He said this needs to be resolved as soon as possible so as to avoid erosion of patient confidence.