As of midnight on January 11, the College of Medicine's affiliated campuses in Philadelphia, Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, have a new owner, American Academic Health System.

American Academic is an affiliate of Paladin Healthcare, a national health care management company with a track record of building strong health care delivery networks in urban and suburban areas, including some of the nation's most diverse communities facing health care challenges. Hahnemann and St. Christopher's thus become part of a health care group that has been successfully managing the venerable 145-year-old Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and owns and manages four general acute-care hospitals in Southern California.

Hahnemann and St. Christopher's are significant resources for the College of Medicine. We began conversations with American Academic Health System when the definitive sale agreement between that organization and Tenet Health-care was signed last September. Our ongoing dialogue includes strategies to enhance our educational mission, to create an environment of cooperation, and to mutually pursue best practices.

American Academic Health System's leadership has expressed the desire to preserve and enhance the hospitals' clinical and teaching programs, and to collabo-rate closely with the College of Medicine. I'm especially gratified that in addition to their commitment to academic medicine, American Academic shares our goal of improving health outcomes in the community.

When the sale was announced, Joel Freedman, American Academic's founder and CEO, said, "Philadelphia is among the most renowned health care centers in the United States, and we are privileged to be part of it."

We share that sentiment and look forward, with your input, to continuing to build a future that benefits everyone — students, faculty, staff, patients and community.

Daniel V. Schidlow, MD
Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg Dean
Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs