Healthcare Consultant Floats Trial Balloon Proposing John Kitzhaber as OHSU’s Next President

Former governor will give keynote address in Texas at State of Reform healthcare conference on Feb. 1.

(Leah Nash)

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission signaled its unhappiness with former Gov. John Kitzhaber recently, expressing a desire to heavily fine him and his fiancee, former first lady Cylvia Hayes, relating to influence peddling allegations.

Related: Ethics commissioner on Oregon's disgraced first couple: "a case study in what you are not supposed to do in public office."

That dark cloud, however, hasn't dampened the enthusiasm some people have for Oregon's longest serving governor.

Yesterday, DJ Wilson, a healthcare consultant who puts on high-level medical industry conferences, proposed that Oregon Health & Science University hire Kitzhaber as its next president.

Kitzhaber, a former emergency room physician, earned his medical degree at OHSU. The university is currently searching for a successor to Dr. Joe Robertson, who announced his retirement last year.

Wilson—who landed Kitzhaber as the keynote speaker at a Feb. 1 conference in Austin called the 2018 State of Reform, Texas—lists five reasons why Kitzhaber would make a good choice:

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.