CHAPEL HILL, NC – University of North Carolina System spokesperson Josh Ellis released the following statement:
“The UNC System initiated legal action to enforce the terms of the long-standing affiliation agreement and to protect the Brody School of Medicine. Since the court entered the temporary restraining order, the parties have agreed to mediation, which the UNC System views as the best way to resolve the concerns of all parties and to provide a stable platform for medical education and healthcare in Eastern North Carolina. We are also aware of Vidant’s concerns about proposed state budgets currently being considered by the General Assembly. We continue to believe that the best path forward for Vidant, Pitt County and East Carolina University would be to honor the long-standing partnership that has served eastern North Carolina well for more than 40 years and to fully restore the governance structure all parties had agreed to in the affiliation agreement. We look forward to hearing Vidant’s concerns, as well as resolving problems that have arisen in the relationship between with Vidant and its support of the Brody School of Medicine.”