University of Minnesota Board of Regents approves mediated agreement with Fairview, M Physicians; names Dr. Carol Bradford to leadership role

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents convened to consider and act on the mediated settlement agreement between the University, Fairview Health Services and M Physicians on January 30. 

Last month, the University entered mediation with M Physicians and Fairview, committed to good-faith negotiations and achieving a win-win-win solution. The agreement, unanimously approved by the Board, provides clarity on the financial mechanisms that help fund both the University of Minnesota Medical School and the research that leads to life-saving and life-sustaining cures. It also brings stability to the doctors who both treat patients and train the next generation of health professionals and assures that they can practice and teach in modern, updated facilities.

“Our partnership with M Physicians and Fairview has — and will continue to play — a vital role in how we sustain and grow our academic mission of  health education, research discovery and clinical care,” said Board Chair Doug Huebsch. “We look forward to the much needed clarity the agreement provides and remain deeply committed to the University’s role in advancing health and healthcare for all Minnesotans.” 

As part of its special meeting, the Board also approved Dr. Carol Bradford as the interim executive vice president for health affairs, concluding a nationwide search that began in December 2024. Bradford will also serve as interim dean of the Medical School. Her appointment begins February 16, 2026.

A nationally respected leader in medicine, Bradford’s career accomplishments include leading cultural transformation in a rapidly changing and uncertain healthcare environment, fostering collaborative interdisciplinary initiatives and balancing academic and clinical missions with strategic growth in Big Ten academic medical centers.

“To best fulfill our land grant mission and honor our commitment to the entire state of Minnesota, we need a nationally respected leader in medicine — someone with demonstrated success and deep experience leading organizations through change and transition to bring clarity and stability, and to elevate excellence in their state and nationally," said President Rebecca Cunningham. “In Dr. Bradford we have this nationally respected, proven leader in medicine — someone uniquely equipped to fulfill this vital role of advancing and bridging the Medical School and all of the academic Health Sciences across the University.”

Bradford will lead for all aspects of the University’s healthcare enterprise, including positioning it for success in the face of a highly competitive and constantly changing marketplace. For the past five years, she served as dean of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and vice president for Health Sciences at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. There, Bradford oversaw the opening of the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Center and launched a new learning track to prepare students for rural and smaller community practice, addressing physician shortages in those areas. She also led the college to achieve an all-time high of $477 million in total extramural research funding and national recognition from U.S. News & World Report as a top tier medical school for excellence in research in 2025-26. 

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the University of Minnesota at this pivotal moment for our institution, our people and our state,” said Bradford. “The foundation you’ve built — and the impact our faculty, staff and learners have on Minnesota — is a big part of what sparked my interest in this role. I look forward to working with them to advance the incredible work that happens here every day and to envision the ways that we will transform health, healthcare, medical education and research discovery in the future.”

The Board’s Virtual Forum accepts audio, video and written input, which is shared directly with Regents and included in the Board’s public materials. The public is encouraged to visit the Virtual Forum to submit their comments. 

The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet next on February 12-13. Visit regents.umn.edu for more information.