The logo for the Arizona Board of Regents.The Arizona Board of Regents decided Friday to hire an outside expert to review and evaluate issues raised over University of Arizona Health Sciences.
The regents made the decision after a special closed-door session convened to review and seek legal advice in response to recent allegations levied at the department and its two medical schools.
Regents chair Greg Patterson said the process will start as soon as possible and will be a “comprehensive” review.
University spokesman Chris Sigurdson said UA President Ann Weaver Hart was happy with the decision.
Hart had called for an independent investigation into concerns raised at a Board of Regents meeting earlier this month, in which board President Eileen Klein said she had been made aware of questions about the possible misuse of public funds and the inaccuracy of public documents at the colleges.
Among the issues were concerns regarding Health Sciences Senior Vice President Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia’s use of a limousine to travel between Tucson and Phoenix. Garcia said he did so at Hart's suggestion so he could work when on the road.
In a statement, Garcia said Friday he and his department will continue to cooperate with the regents' look at operations. He asked in the statement that the analysis be completed "as expeditiously and fairly as possible so that we may continue to advance our work in support of improving the health of Arizona."
Garcia earlier in the week said he and his department had done nothing wrong.
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