Todd Ackerman reports in this Chronicle article on the latest flare-up in the divisive Texas Medical Center divorce of Baylor College of Medicine and the Methodist Hospital after a highly-productive 50 year marriage. Here are the earlier posts on this increasingly acrimonious split.
The latest salvo in the divorce was the accusation by Baylor President Peter Traber that Methodist’s new medical school affiliate — Cornell Medical School — is meeting with Baylor professors to induce them to leave Baylor for Methodist and Cornell. The Chronicle reports that Dr. Traber’s letter made the following accusation:
“Cornell has been actively involved in trying to convince Baylor faculty members to leave the college. The dean of Cornell has personally visited with and/or contacted Baylor faculty members in an attempt to recruit them to the Methodist Physician Organization and Cornell faculty positions.”
Legal translation: “Knock off the bribes or else we’re going to lay a tortious interference lawsuit on your lap.”
Other than the accusations of unethical conduct, things are just fine between Baylor and Methodist, as the Chronicle article notes:
Oddly, both Traber and [Methodist President Ron] Girotto reported that recent negotiations ? they resumed last week after mediators threw up their arms in December ? were the most productive they’ve had.