Partners HealthCare leader questioned on outside ties

Former board members are questioning why it was never asked to review Partners HealthCare Chairman Jack Connors's stake in a leading medical education firm. Partners' board has also not notified public officials of Connors's ownership of a fledgling home healthcare firm that has directly solicited Partners' hospitals for business. Connors and top Partners officials defended the decision not to publicly disclose Connors's potential conflicts, saying that because Partners did not directly contract with either of Connors's firms there were no conflicts to report. Connors also defended his right to be an entrepreneur in the healthcare business while also chairing Partners' board, and strongly denied ever using his position for personal or financial advantage.