Overview
- Essentia Health confirmed it has left formal mediation with the University of Minnesota, though it says it remains open to collaborating on the medical school’s future.
- The move eliminates the proposed $1 billion all-Minnesota plan and shifts attention to securing a new agreement with Fairview before the current affiliation expires on December 31, 2026.
- Fairview provided $103.2 million in academic support last year, and questions persist over how the university would replace that funding starting in 2027.
- Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office asked the University and Fairview to submit detailed reports on how an unwind would work if no new deal is reached.
- University President Rebecca Cunningham said the institution is exploring multiple models and potential partners, while medical school leaders warn that failing to renew terms this year could put the school in great jeopardy.