OMAHA — The owners of Nebraska Medicine are reorganizing the entity’s board of directors after the board filed suit against the owners.

The reorganization is the latest chapter in the saga surrounding the future of one of the state’s premier health systems. Nebraska Medicine is a nonprofit medical center owned by the University of Nebraska and Clarkson Regional Health Services. Clarkson is exiting the partnership and the Nebraska Board of Regents voted this month to purchase Clarkson’s share and properties for $800 million.

Some of the Nebraska Medicine Board and multiple former CEOs opposed NU’s purchase, saying they didn’t want government involved in the hospital. The board filed a lawsuit against NU and Clarkson the day after the regents voted to become sole owners.

On Thursday, the Board of Regents announced that it joined with Clarkson to reconstitute Nebraska Medicine’s Board of Directors. The announcement says the Nebraska Secretary of State has approved new articles of incorporation. Effective immediately, the new Nebraska Medicine board members are:

VOTING MEMBERS:

• Dele Davies, MD, Interim Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and past board member of Nebraska Medicine, long term UNMC physician leader. Dr. Davies will serve as Chairman of the Board.

•William Lydiatt, MD, CEO, Clarkson Regional Health Services and retired surgeon.

•Stephanie Moline, Current Board Member of Clarkson Regional Health Services, Retired Executive Vice President, FNBO

•Jeffrey Gold, MD, President, University of Nebraska, inaugural board chair of Nebraska Medicine and UNMC Chancellor for more than ten years.

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

• Dean, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center

•Chief of Staff of The Nebraska Medical Center medical staff

•Chief Nursing Officer, Nebraska Medicine

•Chair of Surgery of the College of Medicine of the University of Nebraska Medical Center

NU says the board is operating in an interim capacity. 

“Nebraska Medicine will have its own physician led board and governance structure once this transaction is closed.”

The news release says the owners took the action because they viewed the board as having threatened “critically important mission driven strategic initiatives.” According to the release, the Nebraska Attorney General is investigating the board’s actions.

NU says the interim board will assume governance oversight and that management will continue to lead Nebraska Medicine’s day-to-day operations.