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The new position is a part of an organizational process that has been taking place over the past seven months, Fethke said, and is more concentrated than the position held by Robert Kelch, who oversaw all the health sciences. Kelch left UI in 2003 for the University of Michigan.

Reinstating a vice president of health affairs was made public in November when Gov. Tom Vilsack suggested the position as a way to move forward with the UI presidential search. Fethke stressed Monday that the appointment of a vice president of medical affairs has nothing to do with the search for a new president.

Robillard, who will report directly to the president, now will direct the activities of the Carver College of Medicine, the University of Iowa physicians and University Hospitals. His salary of $433,222 will remain the same for the time being. Fethke said a review of all the senior positions will determine if they are being compensated fairly.

Fethke said the move is to streamline bureaucracy to focus more on patient care, which will make University Hospitals more effective and competitive. Clinical and teaching practices complement each other, he said.

"This is an extension of what we are already doing," Fethke said.

Robillard will remain the dean of the Carver College of Medicine. Donna Katen-Bahensky, University Hospitals CEO, will be given the additional title of senior associate vice president. Other senior positions will be a chief medical officer and a chief financial officer. The new CFO will replace Anthony DeFurio, who left UI in December for a similar position at the University of Colorado Hospital.

Fethke laid out his goals for the new structure. They included integrated patient schedules and follow-up care; simplified billing; more patient accessibility; market-driven, off-site clinic locations; and more, stronger partnerships in health care fields.

"To accelerate what we are doing well already can't just be done by one group or the other. It has to be done together," Robillard said.

The new UI president could expand the job to what it used to be, Fethke said, but that would require Robillard to give up his dean's position.

The Iowa state Board of Regents does not have to approve the move, Fethke said, but will talk about it at its Thursday meeting in Urbandale.