SUBJECT:  CEO -- UCSD Medical Center

I am pleased to announce that Richard J. Liekweg, 42, has been named CEO of the UCSD Medical Center. Featured as one of Modern Healthcare’s “Up and Comers” in hospital administration in 2001, Rich is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Durham Regional Hospital, part of the Duke University Health System in North Carolina. He will begin in his new position March 24.

Rich is a talented and creative administrator who is highly regarded for his interpersonal skills. At Duke, he has built strong relationships with physicians and staff. He is also a proven leader who understands the special mission of the academic medical center. We are all impressed with his commitment to quality patient care, and to creating a hospital environment where advanced medicine, leading edge research, education and training can take place.

Rich earned master’s degrees in both business administration and public health administration from the University of Michigan prior to joining the Duke Health system as an administrative fellow. He advanced within the Duke system, ultimately serving as Senior Associate Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Hospital before moving to the Durham Regional Hospital as Chief Operating Officer, and then CEO. (More information is available at http://health.ucsd.edu/news/2003/01_24_Liekweg.html)

His recruitment fills the position vacated with the retirement of Sumiyo Kastelic, who had served as CEO since 1997 after a long career at UCSD Medical Center. I want to express my appreciation to David Sakai, Chief Financial Officer of UCSD Health Sciences, for serving as interim CEO until Rich’s arrival.

                                                Edward W. Holmes, M.D.
                                                Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences
                                                Dean, School of Medicine