Thom Reilly Starts work Aug. 17 as head of University of Nevada Health Sciences Center

The Board of Regents on Tuesday approved the quarter-of-a-million-dollar salary for Thom Reilly, the university system's new health sciences czar.

Only Regent Howard Rosenberg voted against the pay for Reilly, who is giving up his Clark County manager's job for the new post.

Rosenberg and Regent Jill Derby questioned why no nationwide search was held to fill the position and why Reilly has no official job description.

"How on earth am I supposed to evaluate someone when I don't know what he's supposed to be doing?" Rosenberg said, noting he supports Reilly for the position, but could not support the process that appointed him.

Reilly will start Aug. 17 as the vice chancellor and chief operating officer of the University of Nevada Health Sciences Center, which Rogers hopes lawmakers will fund next session.

"I'm excited to be part of this exciting project that will ultimately increase quality health care for the citizens of Nevada," Reilly said.

Rogers said no one is more qualified for the job than Reilly, who has a doctorate in public administration.

The center is charged with increasing the number and quality of health care professionals in state. It will exist statewide and involve health care and research-related programs from all eight of the state's higher education institutions, which Reilly will coordinate.

Reilly, who will report to Rogers, will be based in Las Vegas and work down the hall from the chancellor. Reilly will also continue teaching part time at UNLV.

Reilly will help in negotiations with the county, which Rogers hopes can provide substantial support for the $500 million to $700 million health sciences project.

Reilly said discussions have been held to use the county's bonding capacity to help build the center. There have also been talks about using county land near UNLV's Shadow Lane campus, he said.

Reilly said he plans to first meet with health officials at all of the universities and colleges as well as three committees -- the governor's, the Legislature's and the system's -- that are studying the center's prospects.

Regents approved his contract for only 12 months, with longer employment contingent upon the Legislature backing the creation of the center.

For the first year, system officials said his salary will be paid for with non-state funds, including savings derived from employment vacancies left unfilled.

Reilly's job description will develop along with the concept of the center as the health care community continues to brainstorm, but the system will have his goals and mission documented by the board's August meeting, Rogers said.

Rogers, who has the authority to hire staff without the elected board's approval, waived a search to fill the health sciences position. The board is required to approve starting salaries for new hires.

On Tuesday, the board also unanimously approved the $189,000-a-year base salary for Mike Reed, the system's new vice chancellor of finance.