Question of the forced resignations of Dean Hahn and Department Chair Palmarozzi

The following letter dated on December 22nd, 2008 by John Jones, DO, TCOM class 1987, TCOM alumni association board member

The forced resignation of Dean Marc Hahn from his position at TCOM/UNTHSCFW was a huge mistake.  As dean, he had led TCOM to the number one position on COMLEX I and II CE, administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.  Not only that, he also had oversight over great expansion in the college's impact and program development.  He was popularly supported by the alumni, because of his great leadership.  He has served the college and the university well.

Why have you allowed this to happen on your watch?

You currently have a president of the HSC who is alienating all of the TCOM alumni and in fact the DO professional community, not only in Texas but throughout the country.  This is by his plan to establish a competing school at UNHSCFW which would grant the MD degree.

Do you support this?

At a time when the citizens of the state of Texas have desperately needed more primary care physicians, especially in rural and underserved areas, TCOM and the University of North Texas Regents have for decades supported the best solution in the state to this problem.  Yet the Board of Regents is allowing the president of the HSC to promote an idea that will completely detract from the mission the state mandated when adopting TCOM and funding the school.  It will also contribute to the future shortage of primary care physicians by taking away resources which could be devoted to solving the problem.

I cannot conceive of any possible reasons why you would undermine this successful mission by adding in an educational model which has not been successful in meeting the citizen's needs in this way.  It is also hard to imagine that the regents have not understood why such leaders as Michael Clearfield, DO, Frederick Schaller, DO, and others have left the institution rather than continue to serve the present administration. 

Again I ask, why did you and the other regents allow the current president to force the resignation of Dean Hahn?  Dean Hahn has a long track record of faithful service and tremendous productivity for the school.  The forced resignation of the Chair of Family Medicine, Dr. Elizabeth Palmarozzi, was likewise an indication to potential faculty recruits that it would be well for them to reconsider working for an institution that rewards its faithful leaders and employees in such a manner.

Please consider carefully what you are doing.  Please communicate with the leaders of the TCOM Alumni Association and Texas Osteopathic Medical Association to let us know why these forced resignations are being tolerated, and why the Board of Regents is allowing the current UNTHSCFW President to consider policies that would undermine the legislation's efforts to meet the needs of Texas citizens.