To get the lowdown on the new report on the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center, I spoke with Dr. Russell Luepker. He's a Mayo Professor of Public Health and came to the medical school in 1976, "when we were in the top 20." But since then, "we have gradually fallen in the rankings. And everyone in the country knows it, unfortunately. Something has to be done."

He praised the report for noting the friction with Fairview, the importance of involving faculty in planning and the need for greater transparency.

Luepker notes that much of the talk about "structure" is really a Minnesotan way to approach a tougher conversation.

"Do we have the right people? The right leadership and visionary leadership?