The University of Minnesota Board of Regents on Thursday heard public remarks from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and strategic facilitator Lois Quam as the university seeks a new agreement to sustain its Medical School and affiliated clinical practice.

President Cunningham told the regents the university must “secure the long term future of the University of Minnesota Medical School, which is part of the University that trains 70% of the state's healthcare professionals.” She said any viable solution will involve “mission support from an affiliated health system,” and stressed the university’s priority on continuity of academic physician leadership and fair compensation for faculty physicians.

Ellison, making his first appearance before the regents as attorney general, framed the Medical School’s role in Minnesota as part of a land‑grant obligation: “This land grant institution, the University of Minnesota, supports the well‑being and prosperity of our entire state.” He thanked regents and university leaders for their engagement and said his office has committed “immense time and energy to support the path forward.”

Strategic facilitator Lois Quam urged the board to center patients and Minnesota communities in negotiations. “Securing an agreement with Fairview for the continuity and and stability of patient care is vital,” she said, adding that a core set of agreements among Fairview, University of Minnesota Physicians and the university is “the starting point.”

Board vice chairs who spoke framed the work as urgent and statewide. Vice Chair Ruth Johnson, a physician, said the university and its partners must “continue delivering world class care while training the next generation of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.” Vice Chair Wheeler noted the medical school’s ties across Minnesota and to other systems such as CentraCare and Essentia and said a future arrangement must combine teaching, workforce development and research with patient care across urban, rural and tribal communities.

Regents, university leaders and the attorney general repeatedly described the current 30‑year relationship with Fairview as nearing its end and said they do not yet know the scope of a future relationship. President Cunningham said the university was continuing talks with Fairview while also exploring deeper ties with other health systems.

No formal board action or vote was recorded on the facilitation process at the meeting. The regents and administration pledged continued work with the Attorney General’s Office, Fairview and University of Minnesota Physicians toward an agreement they said is necessary to sustain clinical care, education and research across the state.

Sources and context: remarks and exchanges on the facilitation item were given during the agenda segment that introduced Attorney General Keith Ellison and strategic facilitator Lois Quam and included remarks by President Cunningham and the board vice chairs. The board repeatedly emphasized that time is limited and that agreement terms must protect patient care and the medical school’s academic mission.