Lois Quam outlines facilitation charge to mediate talks among University, Fairview and Essentia

Lois Quam, the strategic facilitator appointed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, told the University of Minnesota Board of Regents in May that her work will focus on establishing communication guidelines, setting milestones and creating a path to a durable agreement among the University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services and Essentia Health.

“ My charge includes establishing communication guidelines, setting milestones and deadlines, facilitating discussions among the organizations, and providing other support that the parties agree is mutually beneficial, ” Quam said, summarizing the facilitator’s duties as discussed with the attorney general and the parties.

The role, she said, is aimed at ensuring stability for physicians, health‑care workers and patients who rely on the statewide system. Quam described a fact‑finding phase she has completed and outlined next steps that include facility visits and meetings with leaders from each organization. She said she meets every other week with the attorney general’s office to keep them informed and that the attorney general “reserves the right to review anything that comes out of this process.”

Regents pressed for timelines and specifics. Quam responded that she will develop milestones and deadlines together with the University, Fairview and Essentia and cannot provide fixed dates until those parties agree to the schedule. She also told the board she will bring representatives from the organizations together under her facilitation to build an agreement acceptable to all parties.

Board members framed three priority questions they want the facilitation to address: what the value proposition will be for the people served, what sustainable business model will support the arrangement, and how any new structure will avoid duplicating local resources. Quam said those topics are within her scope and that she will work with the parties to surface them and produce milestones that reflect shared work.

President Cunningham and the board emphasized the broader stakes: the University’s medical and health science programs are a major source of clinicians for the state and contribute substantially to the university’s finances and the state economy. Quam noted the urgency of the assignment and described rural access to care as a consistent focus of her outreach.

No formal action or vote occurred; Quam’s next steps are to complete campus and facility tours, finalize milestone dates with the parties, and continue regular updates with the attorney general’s office.