Ex-provost takes helm at Jefferson

While newly appointed University President Amy Gutmann ushers in her first group of students with the start of classes today, across town another new president is taking the reins of a Philadelphia institution.

Though he officially started work on Sept. 1, former Penn Provost Robert Barchi is still making the transition from academic head at Penn to president at Thomas Jefferson University.

"The people here have been extraordinarily helpful in bringing me up to speed and presenting the issues," Barchi said, describing the transition as "a smooth one."

Barchi was selected to lead Thomas Jefferson University in early June, and split his time between Penn and Thomas Jefferson during July and August.

Looking forward to the year ahead, Barchi said he is working "to develop a new strategic plan" for the medical school.

Challenges that Barchi will be forced to confront during his first year as president include "a recent transition in leadership in the cancer center," and more general complications indicative of the medical education field as a whole.

"We're facing the same kind of challenges that the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Medical School are facing, and that academic medicine around the country is facing," Barchi said, referencing obstacles presented by such complicated issues such as health care reimbursement and research.

Though Barchi seems happy in his new role, he said he still feels a distinct connection to Penn.

"Penn was my home for literally more than 30 years," he said. "I've found the individuals [at Thomas Jefferson] to be very warm and receptive ... but that doesn't make me miss my colleagues and friends [at Penn] any less."

Barchi's peers are confident that the same characteristics that enabled him to succeed at Penn will allow him to lead efficiently in his new post at Thomas Jefferson.

"Between his own in-depth experience in the medical profession and his years of administrative experience at Penn, he seems perfectly matched to lead an institution like Jefferson's medical school," said Nancy Nicely, executive director of external affairs for the Provost's Office. "I think Dr. Barchi will be a terrific president."

Barchi said that he views both Penn and Thomas Jefferson as invaluable institutions to the city of Philadelphia.

"I'm incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at both of them during my career," he said.

Barchi will be invested as the fourth president of Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, according to Thomas Jefferson University spokeswoman Phyllis Fisher.

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