Imagine South Toledo without its hospital
We will be meeting in front of University Hall at 1PM on Saturday, June 20 to welcome the new interim President of UT Dr. Gregory Postel. We will also hear from local labor leaders and community leaders about new developments on the effort to save the UT Medical Center.
Please gather on the sidewalks outside of University Hall on Bancroft. Bring your signs, bring a friend, and practice social distancing!
The Save UTMC Coalition partially resumes public activities while adhereing to responsible, science-based advice regarding safe distancing in the COVID-19 erea.
We will meet BRIEFLY at 10 a.m., this Saturday, June 6, at Park Congregational Church, corner of Glendale Ave. and Harvard Blvd, for no longer than 30 minutes. If you care to show your support, we welcome you.
We ask:
What exactly does ProMedica intend to do with the South Toledo campus that currently provides worthy healing, teaching, and research service to all of NW Ohio, indeed to an entire nation needing novel-corona research? ProMedica, please address us.
We will conclude our meeting with prayer for our nation, and our community.
Stay safe in this COVID-19 era.
As Dr. Sharon Gaber announces her resignation as President of The University of Toledo, the grass-roots coalition “Save UTMC” pauses momentarily to wish her the very best in her new role as Chancellor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“We wish Dr. Gaber the very best. She was receptive to our outreach, and a fair person to communicate with,” says Carty Finkbeiner, former Mayor of Toledo and member of the Save UTMC Steering Committee.
“But make no mistake, we will continue to pursue our mission,” he continues. “This includes a forensic audit of UT finances dating back to the initial acquisition of the (former) Medical College of Ohio by UT, and the subsequent Academic Affiliation Agreement between UT and ProMedica, prior to which this was a profitable operation.”
Save UTMC has been joined recently by a chorus of public officials, including US Representative Marcy Kaptur, who are calling upon Governor Mike DeWine for a stay of the request for proposals made by the University of Toledo Board of Trustees that seek an operational partnership or sale of the University of Toledo Medical Center. The Medical Campus in South Toledo also includes the former Medical College of Ohio hospital.
Finkbeiner concludes “It is past time that the University Trustees and officials clearly understand that UTMC is owned by the taxpayers of the state of Ohio, including citizens of Toledo, and decision-making must include the men and women who have been loyal to that campus since its inception.”
TOLEDO CITY COUNCIL SEEKS UTMC AUDIT
GRASS-ROOTS OPPONENTS INSIST: HALT THE RFP
Toledo City Council on Tuesday April 22 passed a resolution asking Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to stay the University of Toledo’s Board of Trustees request for proposals that seek an operational partnership or sale of the University of Toledo Medical Center. The Medical Campus in South Toledo also includes the former Medical College of Ohio hospital.
Citing a workforce of some 2300 facing potential displacement, the ongoing COVID-19 crisis’s impact on employment, plus the fact that UTMC researchers have developed the only locally available novel coronavirus test kits, the resolution also calls for a forensic audit of UT financial decisions in light of UTMC’s current financial condition.
RESOLUTION IS LATEST IN ONGOING EFFORTS
The U.T. Board of Trustees on Monday, April 13 took action to request proposals to purchase, lease or manage UTMC.
That very next morning, the Save UTMC Steering Committee held a press conference where leadership spoke out against any such attempt, noting that “it is Ohio’s property, and Governor DeWine will make the call, along with other state officials,” according to Carty Finkbeiner, former Mayor of Toledo.
“This public hospital is the peoples’ hospital,” said State Senator Teresa Fedor. “What happened … is an indication that (the U.T. Board of Trustees members) are not honest brokers.” Fedor and Finkbeiner were joined by State Representative Paula Hicks-Hudson (also a former Mayor of Toledo), and Dr. James Willey and Randy Desposito, representing UT physicians and labor respectively. All are members of the Save UTMC Steering Committee.
MARCY KAPTUR JOINS THE CALLS
The weekend of April 18, U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur contacted Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, asking for a halt to the process, citing, among other concerns, “a complete absence of physicians or other professionals of academic medical centers” on the U.T. Board of Trustees.
Former Mayor Finkbeiner adds “We need to maintain pressure on state officials and the University of Toledo President to conduct a forensic audit and keep this in the public eye. Before the acquisition of MCO by UT and the affiliation with ProMedica, this was a profitable operation.”
Next on the Save UTMC agenda is a teleconference with Randy Gardner, State of Ohio Chancellor of Higher Education, Congresswoman Kaptur, and members of the Save UTMC Steering Committee.
HAPPY EASTER TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!
Be healthy and well. Hopefully, the warming weather, and the isolation we have been practicing will bring us back together in the not-too-distant future.
This week’s Blade brought us an impressive endorsement of The Toledo Clinic’s offer to bring new doctors to our South Toledo Medical Campus, and UTMC. It could not have been a stronger message. How to save UTMC, Blade Editorial Board, April 6 2020
The same day, Dr. James C Willey had a visionary essay in The Blade which spelled out his view of the future of our South Toledo campus. Jim is working hard at his daily job, then putting in another 6 hours per day with our Save UTMC team. Health care research benefits region, The Blade, Dr. James Willey, April 6, 2020
On Wednesday, Ohio Senator Teresa Feder, Toledo City Councilman Rob Ludeman, Dr. Willey, and I teleconferenced with U.T. President Sharon Gaber and her Chief of Staff, Diane Miller, for 70 minutes. We had an excellent exchange of ideas. We pushed vigorously for President Gaber’s support of the partnership with The Toledo Clinic, improved marketing of our hospital and campus, and for working together in seeking funds from the $2.6 trillion economic assistance program the U.S. Congress and President recently agreed to.
Finally, Jim and I have spoken with U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur at length twice this past week, exchanging ideas which could bring dollars and talent to our South Toledo Medical Campus.
We are putting up yard signs and exploring costs for billboard and extra-large outdoor displays you see at prominent intersections and thoroughfares throughout the city. We also hope to host a fundraiser in the Spring. Please call with your thoughts, or yard sign locations. And please, write letters to the editor praising the Blade editorial and Dr. Willey’s essay.
Many Thanks!
Carty Finkbeiner, 419-309-5636
Randy Desposito, 419-902-1287,
Save UTMC Steering Committee
Contact: Phil Mariasy | Allied Media Group | 419.297.2730 | alliedmedia@buckeye-express.com
It is vital that we remain in communication at this profoundly significant moment in our world, country, and community—and we, the Save UTMC Coalition will do just that on a weekly basis.
Former Mayor of Toledo, Carty Finkbeiner, is on the steering committee of this group. He was recently asked of our objective. He states:
Progress on these four points is happening. The Blade reports a breakthrough in COVID-19 testing made by researchers at the UTMC Campus. Previously, virus testing took 4-to-5 days. UTMC now provides test results in under 8 hours.
Toledo Blade: “UTMC specialists worked swiftly…“
Meanwhile, Dr. James C. Willey, and other UT doctors, have been working with the Toledo Clinic to welcome new physicians to our campus. Leadership at TCC has been fantastic. We hope UT leadership will soon sign this collaborative agreement, which will bring both doctors
and dollars to our South Toledo Medical Campus.
Finally, the congressional appropriation of $2.6 TRILLION dollars includes $300 billion for hospitals. We expect that the demonstrated accomplishment of UTMC researchers will gain the attention and consideration of Ohio Governor Mike Dewine.
We will gather together again, in-person, as soon as public health protocols allow. Meanwhile, we offer all our best wishes for health and safety.
We remain strong for UTMC and our South Toledo Medical Campus,
The Save UTMC Coalition
(Photo credit: Judy Dilworth)
Local news outlets, including The Blade and 13ABC, have reported that the pathology lab at the University of Toledo Medical Center “has started testing samples for coronavirus.” The Blade, Brooks Sutherland, March 24, 2020
This is a developing story, and we encourage you to keep up with information via local media outlets, and our own Save UTMC website, and Facebook groups (see links below).
At this time, there is no directly discernable connection between onsite COVID19 testing at UTMC and the future of our South Toledo medical teaching facility. However, we view this development at this historic moment in public health as another reason to remain dedicated, with enthusiasm, to our mission: the preservation of our hospital and its Health Science Campus.
Due to the corona virus, we will not be having a Town Hall meeting this Saturday, March 21 .
Your health and safety, and our community’s health, are top priorities, and without you this movement would not be possible. Additionally, we would like to express our gratitude for the support you give in our united effort to “Save UTMC” and our South Toledo Health Science Campus.
ACTIVITIES OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE MARCH 16
Earlier this week our steering committee teleconferenced with UT President Sharon Gaber. Several issues were discussed, and future conversations will be held. That same day, Carty spoke with Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur at some length regarding her vision for our hospital and its Health Science Campus working in collaboration with other hospitals to better serve the general public. Follow-up conversations with both President Gaber and Congresswoman Kaptur
are on the agenda.
Financial challenges are never easy. However, all of us, including President Gaber and Congresswoman Kaptur, are joining efforts to seek the very best solutions possible for South Toledo families, businesses, unions, and our South Toledo Medical Campus. All concerned deserve, and will get, our united very best effort!
ONGOING COMMUNICATION
During this medical crisis it is very important that we all remain in communication with each other. Toward that end, our social media and public relations teams met this week to improve our digital footprint. We have since then developed a new “SAVE UTMC” webpage, where you will be able to find a lot of helpful and interesting information, including news articles, videos, our petition, and information on yard signs. In addition to clickable links on this page, (which is a template we will be using for all upcoming media releases), you can reach the webpage at one of the following three addresses:
saveutmc.com saveutmc.org saveutmc.net
We will also continue running our current Facebook group sites as well. So, look for the latest updates and information on our new website, and keep yourselves well informed.
You can also help us get our magnificent yard signs up at your neighbors’ and friends’ homes in South Toledo, where our goal is 2 yard signs on every street.
We welcome any suggestions you might have to improve our communication with each other and our outreach to fellow citizens who are not yet in touch with us. If you have any suggestions, please call:
Carty Finkbeiner: 419-309-5636 Randy Desposito: 419-902-1287
We should not let our presently curtailed lifestyles halt the momentum, energy, and enthusiasm of our mission: the preservation of our hospital and its Health Science Campus. Our South Toledo community deserves no less.
SAVE UTMC TOGETHER!