A group of 25 physicians and professors in the Ohio State University College of Medicine have signed a "no confidence" letter asserting that Dr. Sheldon Retchin, CEO of the OSU Wexner Medical Center, and his top executives are undermining the college's academic mission and hurting faculty morale.

The seven-page letter, dated Monday, went to OSU President Michael V. Drake, Provost Bruce McPheron and the chairmen of the boards of trustees for the medical center and the university.

The professors assert that Retchin disrespects the hospital's and college's academic mission, in part by setting "unrealistic clinical effort and research funding expectations that are incompatible with academic medicine." They also say Retchin's leadership style is creating division between the Medical Center and the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is directed by Dr. Michael Caligiuri.

The medical center employs more than 1,200 physicians, most of whom hold positions as professors in the College of Medicine.

The professors contend that Dr. Craig Kent, dean of the College of Medicine for seven months, has shown "an emerging pattern of leadership in line with the style promulgated by Dr. Retchin." Their actions have led to delays in hiring new physicians and reaching new contracts with those already on staff, and are causing faculty to resign or take early retirements, the professors assert.

A "confusing and continually changing faculty hiring process" also has caused some potential hires to accept positions elsewhere, they say.

"It is unfortunate that the Medical Center and College of Medicine leadership have created an environment of low morale, distrust and retaliation," the letter states. "Be assured that we would have preferred to avoid this route of action, but we feel it is our responsibility to bring this to your attention as we truly care about the health and future of this organization."

Retchin could not be reached on Friday for comment. Co-signers to the letter reached by the newspaper Friday declined comment.

OSU President Michael V. Drake and Provost Bruce A. McPheron met on Wednesday with some of the signers of the letter. In an email following the meeting, the two leaders said, "... the May 1 letter contained facts and conclusions that would have benefited significantly from prior conversation." They promised to meet with the professors again next week.

"The university is aware of the concerns that have been expressed by some of our faculty," university spokesman Chris Davey said in a separate statement. "We are actively engaged in understanding and addressing these issues."

The letter says it reflects the sentiment of a majority of more than 100 faculty from three of the college's divisions. The signatories were limited to 25, the letter says, because of concerns of retaliation against junior faculty and clinical track faculty who have contracts that allow immediate termination without cause, and against family members of senior faculty who work at Ohio State.

The letter asks for "protection from retaliation aimed at those signing this letter, as well as their family members employed at OSUWMC that may arise if and when this letter becomes public."

Retchin was hired as medical-center CEO in December 2014, in one of Drake's first major appointments. His base salary then was $1.1 million. The medical center admitted nearly 60,000 patients last year and had operating revenue of $2.57 billion, according to its website.

mcedward@dispatch.com

@MaryMoganEdward