Faculty have faith in interim chief

Only one comment broke the tension at yesterday's faculty meeting announcing the changes in leadership at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. That was when the new Interim Health System CEO and Medical School Dean Peter Traber first spoke to the crowds of doctors and professors that he would soon lead. "I'm sure you're asking why I took this job," he said. Laughter filled the room. Traber, 44, was appointed to the dual positions yesterday by University President Judith Rodin and Board of Trustees Chairman James Riepe after William Kelley was ousted after more than 10 years on the job. Traber, currently the chairman of the Department of Medicine, brings with him nearly 19 years of clinical and administrative experience, the last eight of which have been at Penn. And according to faculty in the Medical School, he will need this experience to lead the financially troubled institution into the future. "I know Peter extremely well, and he's walking into a very difficult job," said Jack Ende, chief of the Department of Internal Medicine. Most faculty had nothing but support to offer Traber, who said he would consider taking the job on a permanent if asked. Stanley Goldfarb, senior vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Medicine, noted that, "He's as well-equipped for the position as anyone in the country." After Traber's 1976 graduation from the University of Michigan -- where he played football under legendary coach Bo Schembechler -- he moved on to Wayne State University for his medical degree and later Northwestern University, where he completed his residency and later received a fellowship in gastroenterology. Traber came to Penn in 1992 after five years on the faculty at his alma mater, Michigan. His initial appointment was as chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, and in 1997 he was appointed the Frank Wister Thomas professor of Medicine and chair of the department, the largest within the Medical School. Provost Robert Barchi, who previously served as chairman of the Neuroscience and Neurology Department, characterized Traber as "a very wise and talented leader, with an ability to listen and get things done." Other colleagues were equally enthusiastic about Traber's abilities. "I think he'll be absolutely fantastic," said Lisa Bellini, vice chair for education in the Department of Medicine. "He is an incredibly balanced individual who is driven by excellence, integrity and he's someone of the highest moral character." Said Gastroenterology Professor William Long: "He's been an excellent chairman of Medicine and he's very good at working with people." In his primary role as Health System CEO, Traber inherits a medical enterprise that is the second largest in the crowded Philadelphia health care market but has wracked up enormous deficits in the past several years, leading to a massive workforce reduction that is still not complete. Many blame the current problems on Kelley and his strategy of rapid expansion in the mid-1990s. Just hours into his new position, Traber already established a number of short- and long-range objectives for his time at the Health System's helm. "My immediate plans are to communicate with the faculty and the staff and make sure they feel they're being involved in the transition," Traber said. "I think the highest priorities are to maintain the high quality of medical care, to retain our outstanding faculty and to do the tough financial things we have to do to turn [the Health System's finances] around," he added. The new interim CEO and dean offered gratitude and praise for his embattled predecessor, who has been a colleague of his at both Penn and Michigan. "I was enthusiastic and excited about the possibilities," Traber said. "At the same time I had feelings of admiration for what Bill Kelley has done over the past 10 years." Some faculty members were quick to point out the similarities between Traber and his predecessor. "[Dr. Kelley] is a very forceful man, and I think you can say many of the same things about Dr. Traber," said Timothy Hoops, a professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology.