Tarek Salaway, who became CEO of Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University in mid-December, is no longer in the role.
OHSU President Shereef Elnahal, MD, told staff April 3 that Mr. Salaway is no longer CEO, a health system spokesperson said in an April 3 statement shared with Becker’s.
Chief Medical Officer Renee Edwards, MD, will serve as acting CEO until an interim CEO is selected, Dr. Elnahal said.
Mr. Salaway’s attorney, Jackie Ford, said in an April 4 statement shared with Becker’s that OHSU terminated his employment after not taking his concerns about bias and resource waste seriously.
“Mr. Salaway is an accomplished executive and seasoned leader who addresses these matters with the utmost importance,” Ms. Ford said. “We look forward to using the legal process to ensure these issues are taken seriously going forward.”
Mr. Salaway said in an April 4 statement shared with Becker’s that he remains committed to the mission and people of OHSU and wishes the organization strength and stability moving forward.
“As CEO, I have an ethical obligation to raise concerns when I believe there are issues that could affect the long-term integrity, safety, or sustainability of the institution,” he said. “That responsibility is fundamental to any leadership role and to the trust placed in leaders of public-serving health systems.”
He said his actions were guided by that duty and a commitment to ensuring the system is positioned to address potential risks early and thoughtfully.
“While I am disappointed by how events unfolded, I remain confident that speaking in service of the institution’s future is both appropriate and necessary leadership,” Mr. Salaway said. “I continue to wish the OHSU community every success in its important work caring for patients, advancing research, and serving Oregon.”
OHSU announced Mr. Salaway as the next executive vice president and CEO of the health system in November. He succeeded Tim Goldfarb, who had been serving as interim CEO since January 2025. Mr. Goldfarb replaced Ann Madden Rice, who held the interim CEO role for five weeks before him.
COO Joe Ness served as interim CEO before Ms. Rice took on the role in December 2024. Mr. Ness had succeeded John Hunter, MD, who stepped down as CEO in June 2024.
Mr. Ness exited the organization in August after OHSU eliminated the COO role.
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