University of Chicago Medical Center's chief stepping down to rejoin faculty

James Madara, MD, has announced that he will resign as chief executive officer at University of Chicago Medical Center. He will return to the faculty on Oct. 1, stepping out of a spotlight in which he faced criticism over his plan to redirect patients with less severe illnesses and injuries to a network of community hospitals and clinics. Known as the Urban Health Initiative, Madara's program drew the ire of some doctors inside the hospital, two national physicians groups, and Rep. Bobby Rush, who called for congressional hearings.