Hennepin Healthcare CEO Dr. Jon Pryor abruptly announced Tuesday that he's leaving his job this week.
Pryor, who took the hospital system's leadership position in 2013, has been under pressure since last summer, following community concerns over the hospital's research on the sedative ketamine. It's unclear if that factored into his departure.
Reached for comment Tuesday, Pryor confirmed he's resigning, but deferred to the hospital board as to the explanation. Hennepin Healthcare System board chairwoman Sheila Riggs declined to answer questions about Pryor's resignation.
"It's just been a wonderful organization to work for, and I just love our employees and I love the people we take care of," Pryor said.
"This is the right time for me to make a transition to the next chapter of my life," Pryor wrote in an internal e-mail to colleagues. "Hennepin Healthcare is on the right path, but there is work still to be done. I regret that I won't be part of it, but I am confident that the right people and plans are in place. Later this week you will hear more about the next steps."
The board will meet Wednesday to consider Dr. John Cumming as the interim replacement.
"We are grateful to Dr. Pryor for leading us through this period of growth," Riggs said in a written statement. "He is an innovator who helped the organization reconnect with the community and Hennepin Healthcare System is stronger today because of his leadership."
Hennepin Healthcare operates HCMC, the largest safety-net hospital in the Twin Cities. In a statement, the hospital credited Pryor's leadership for expanding the health system's reach by opening clinics in new markets and renovating and expanding existing clinics. The system also opened a six-story Clinic & Specialty Center that combined many of its downtown clinics into a new facility.
