University of Utah Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Michael L. Good announced this week that he will be transitioning from his administrative roles later this year following a national search for his successor. Good plans to return to the medical school faculty following a sabbatical.

Good, CEO of University of Utah Health (U of U Health) since 2018, has been a steady hand during his six years at the U. Over his term, Good has overseen a $5.7 billion health system, 17 hospitals and clinics, 2.2 million patient visits and 25,000 faculty, staff and students at the academic health sciences center. He helped to guide the university and the rest of the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. And he served as interim president of the state’s flagship higher education institution from April to August of 2021.

“I am so grateful to Dr. Mike Good for his wisdom, patience and calm guidance during a time of great change on our campus and in the community and world around us,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. “Mike’s leadership has strengthened the university’s patient care, research, education and service enterprises and leaves us well-positioned as we enter a time of unprecedented growth.”

As he reflects on winding down his 40-year career as an anesthesiologist and hard- driving healthcare leader—at the Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, University of Florida and Utah—Good said the time has come to step back.

“Calculus suggests this is a good time for transitions,” Good, 64, wrote in a message to his colleagues. “The University of Utah is full of wonderful people with impressive, inspiring, and impactful achievements. The University of Utah’s bright and ascending trajectory will continue to accelerate.”

Michael Good joined the university in August 2018. On his watch, Good has worked to bolster University of Utah Health’s status as one of the nation’s premier centers of academic health sciences. His leadership enhanced U of U Health’s reputation as an academic health system that provides world-class health care, research, education, and service to the state, region, and nation.

He has led the organization through a period of remarkable growth, including: the naming and reconstruction of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine; opening the U of U Health Sugar House clinic, Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital and the Kathryn F. Kirk Comprehensive Cancer Care and Women’s Cancers Center; breaking ground for Huntsman Cancer Institute-Vineyard; and planning a health center and hospital in West Valley City.

Good also became one of the most trusted and calming voices during the tumultuous COVID pandemic and recovery. After Utah went into lockdown on March 16, 2020, Good began delivering weekly updates though his “chalk talk” videos and “Three Things” emails. As part of the state’s medical leadership team, Good helped to guide masking and vaccine policy.

At the same time, Good guided the implementation of transformational educational and research initiatives, growing the university’s health sciences research operation to $458 million in grant funding in 2023, with over 900 research faculty.

Randall noted Good will stay at the helm of U of U Health while a search for his replacement is underway. A search committee will be formed in the coming weeks.