Berk Completes Service as URMC CEO

Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D. announced today that he intends to make a transition from his role as senior vice president for Health Sciences and CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) on Jan. 1, 2015 to launch a new University of Rochester Neurorestoration Institute at the Medical Center.

University President Joel Seligman has named School of Medicine and Dentistry Dean Mark B. Taubman, M.D. as the next senior vice president for Health Sciences and CEO of URMC. Taubman will remain as Dean, and will begin serving the dual role on Jan. 1, 2015.   

Seligman, Berk and Taubman spoke to faculty, staff and students who assembled in the Flaum Atrium for the announcement.

Berk Pursues His Passion

A former chair of Medicine, Berk was appointed CEO in July 2006. He suffered a serious spinal cord injury in 2009 that sparked his passion for creating a patient- and family-centered culture within health care and kindled his desire to improve care specifically for those with chronic neurological conditions. 

Berk explained that the new Rochester Neurorestorative Institute would conduct fundamental and clinical research, educate new scientists and physicians, and provide patient care and clinical trials to restore nerve function to people who, like himself, who have lost neurological function through disease or injury. 

“I am watching with great interest the dawn of a revolution as new drugs, devices and cellular therapies promise to improve the quality of life for people like me,” he said. “As a clinician, scientist and patient, I want to be part of that. I want this institution to lead the revolution.”

Seligman cited a number of significant accomplishments during Berk’s tenure, including the expansion of Strong Memorial Hospital by more than 80 acute care beds, construction of the Golisano Children’s Hospital now underway, completion of the Saunders Research Building and the flourishing of the Wilmot Cancer Institute. In addition, Berk’s strategic plans have guided the Medical Center in preparing for new delivery and payment models emerging under health care reform. 

“Brad has provided outstanding leadership to our medical education and research programs and to our multi-hospital network,” Seligman said. “He has already made significant contributions to the Medical Center by changing the focus to patient- and family-centered care.  Brad now wants to turn his full attention to neurorestorative medicine. I am confident that he will develop a Neurorestorative Institute that will be one of this nation’s leading scientific and patient care institutes. I will support this Institute as a top priority for our University.”  

Seligman announced that the University Board of Trustees had approved a Distinguished University Professorship for Berk, effective upon his return to the faculty. 

Edmund A. Hajim, BS’58, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said, “The Board enthusiastically and unanimously recognized Brad’s contributions to research, medical education and clinical care with a Distinguished University Professorship. His innovative leadership in meeting the challenges of health care reform and his personal courage and determination have been truly inspirational.”

CEO-designate Mark Taubman

Taubman is a highly respected leader at the Medical Center, having served as dean since March 2010; his appointment as dean followed a nine-month stint as acting CEO while Berk recovered from his injury. 

“In his recent five-year review, Mark was praised for his strategic ability with the School of Medicine and Dentistry, his hiring and promotion of outstanding leaders, his implementation of operational plans, his integrity and his ability to engage Medical Center leaders during the post-2008 recession period of financial challenges,” Seligman said. “Mark has proven to be unflappable, a straight shooter, a dean with particular success in working with his research and clinical faculty. He is a man of unquestioned honesty and integrity, whose sense of ethics is of the highest order.”

“As a long-time professional colleague and friend, I’m well aware of Mark’s strengths as a thinker and leader,” Berk said. “I am fortunate to be able to turn the reins over to someone as capable and visionary as Mark Taubman.” 

Philip A. Pizzo, MD’70, who is a Trustee of the University and a former dean of the Stanford School of Medicine, has worked closely with Taubman since he was appointed dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2010. “Mark is one of the most honest and scrupulous academic leaders I have had the opportunity to know. He cares deeply about the University of Rochester and has worked diligently to address and solve a number of important and pressing issues over the past several years. Importantly, he has a vision for the future of UR Medicine that is compelling and exciting.”

Taubman is credited with steering the Medical School through turbulent financial times, amid nationwide reductions in funding for both research and graduate medical education. He led the creation of the Medical Center’s strategic plan for research that fosters focused, collaborative science. His education strategic plan gave birth to the inter-professional Institute for Innovative Education, a milestone in our efforts to instill in students and trainees the value of teamwork among physicians, nurses and other members of the care team.  He also recruited new leadership to the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group and has set in motion major improvements in efficiency, patient-centeredness and collaboration with referring clinicians. 

A tireless and enthusiastic advocate for the School, Taubman has driven the Medical School’s effort to double the number of professorships, adding 44 endowed scholarships at the Medical School during the University’s Meliora Challenge campaign. 

“Brad Berk has laid a strong foundation upon which our clinical and academic missions can thrive. I am honored to have the full support of Brad and Joel,” said Taubman. “My job is to work with our leaders, faculty and staff to build upon that foundation. Together, we can take this organization further than any of us can imagine.” 

A board-certified cardiologist, Taubman came to the Medical Center as chief of the Cardiology Unit and Paul N. Yu Professor of Medicine in February 2003. As chief, he was the guiding force behind the expansion of cardiac patient care services, faculty recruitment, strengthening treatments for those with heart arrhythmias and heart failure, adding new preventive cardiology programs (such as the women’s heart program) and forging strong regional services.

Taubman became chair of the Department of Medicine and Charles E. Dewey Professor of Medicine in May 2007 and served in that role until being named as dean. 

Taubman, a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, interned at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital before completing his residency and cardiology fellowship training at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital.  He held academic appointments at Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston, and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Prior to being recruited to the University of Rochester, he was director of cardiovascular research at Mt. Sinai.