The incoming new top executive at the University of Chicago Medical Center wants to keep the prestigious South Side teaching hospital’s competitive edge in an era of health reform and threats from medical-care providers outside the area looking to expand here such as the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Kenneth Polonsky, 59, the top doctor in the Department of Medicine at Washington University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis and a former U. of C. research physician was named Dean of the division of Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs. He replaces Dr. James Madara, who resigned last year. Get the full story »