December 17, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB President Carol Z. Garrison, who chairs the UAB Health System, announced today that the Health System chair’s office will provide interim leadership following CEO David Hoidal’s resignation.

Garrison will serve as executive chair; Dr. Bob Rich, senior vice president, dean of the School of Medicine and vice chair of the Health System, will serve as executive vice chair; and Dr. Raymond Watts will serve as interim CEO. Watts is chair of neurology and president of the Health Services Foundation.

“With this administrative team’s experience and knowledge of the Health System, we can coordinate a smooth transition as we search for a new CEO,” Garrison said. "The health system is stronger than it has ever been and we look forward to bringing in a leader who will take us even further. We anticipate a tremendous amount of interest in this position and envision many very strong candidates both internally and externally."

Rich, who will also chair the search committee for a new CEO, joined UAB as Dean of the School of Medicine in 2004. Previously, he was Executive Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives at Emory University School of Medicine.

Watts joined UAB in 2003 as chairman of the Department of Neurology. Prior to joining UAB, Watts was the vice chair of the department of neurology at Emory University.

Watts succeeds David Hoidal, who announced last week that he is stepping down January 4 to spend more time with his family in the Midwest.