PROVIDENCE – Brown University President Christina H. Paxson has been granted a temporary leave from the Care New England board of directors until the state issues a decision on Partners HealthCare’s proposed acquisition of Care New England, Brown spokesman Brian Clarke confirmed Monday afternoon.
Clarke said in a statement that “Lifespan’s public opposition to the Partners deal has placed many of Brown’s medical faculty, who are physicians in both the Lifespan and CNE systems, in the uncomfortable position of having to take sides. During this period, Paxson feels that she can’t represent all Brown medical faculty while serving as an active member of the CNE board.”
Paxson became a member of the board when Brown, Partners and CNE signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a commitment “to deepening their collaboration through a clinical, medical education and biomedical research affiliation,” according to a Brown release about the MOU in 2018.
Despite Paxson’s leave from the board, Clarke confirmed that the MOU between the entities remains in place.
“The Care New England board of directors fully supports President Paxson’s request for this leave,” said CNE spokesman Jim Beardsworth in a statement to PBN. “CNE is fortunate to have her leadership and unique perspective in helping to guide the future of our organization and health care in Rhode Island. We look forward to welcoming President Paxson back to the board soon.”
Lifespan declined to comment on the decision.
