The Oregon Health and Science University Board of Trustees voted Monday to appoint an interim president while it launches a national search for a permanent leader, reversing its previous plan to promote the ‘interior.

The vote is a concession to Gov. Tina Kotek, who has pressed the OHSU Board of Trustees to delay naming a permanent replacement for Dr. Danny Jacobs, the health system’s embattled president who was named on last month. announced his intention to resign for “personal reasons”.

Kotek’s office will also play a role in finding a permanent replacement for Jacobs. Friday, Kotek and OHSU announced that a national recruiting effort would be led by a search committee involving the governor’s executive nominating team.

Steve Stadum, a former university general counsel who also served as chief operating officer of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, will serve as interim president Tuesday.

He will lead the institution at a time when OHSU faces an uncertain financial future and years of internal controversies that have strained relationships with faculty and staff.

He will also have to work to complete a high-profile acquisition of Legacy Health, a merger partner that is experiencing its own financial problems.

Stadum’s confirmation follows a turbulent period under Jacobs’ leadership. During his tenure, Jacobs led the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic and negotiated the proposed purchase of Legacy, but faced constant criticism for his response to sexual harassment complaints and friction with the institution’s medical faculty.

The announcement of Jacobs’ plans to resign from the top post came the same day Dr. David Jacoby, former dean of the medical school, continued university alleging that Jacobs unfairly blamed him for mishandling a high-profile harassment case.

The board had initially planned to name Dr. Nate Selden, a pediatric neurosurgeon who was named dean of OHSU’s medical school about five months ago, as the new president, citing a need for stability. The board of trustees was expected to appoint Selden to a three-year term as university president the day after Jacobs announced his intention to resign.

Kotek, who appoints members of OHSU’s board of trustees, publicly criticized the plan, saying OHSU must approach the transition with “appropriate due diligence.” The board delayed its decision, and on Friday, Kotek and OHSU jointly announced plans for a nationwide search.