Rogers woos Thom Reilly for COO post

Christina Littlefield

Saturday, June 17, 2006 | 7:42 a.m.

University system Chancellor Jim Rogers is courting Clark County Manager Thom Reilly to come to work for him.

Over dinner at Landry's on Thursday, Rogers and Reilly discussed the possibility of Reilly becoming the chief operating officer for the University of Nevada's proposed health science center, according to higher education insiders.

Their dinner companion, according to sources, was Marcia Turner, a UNLV lobbyist whom Rogers has recruited to become chief external relations officer for the center.

Rogers and Reilly declined to comment about their conversation, although Reilly said the health science center was discussed.

The Board of Regents has approved the concept of a health science center as an organizational unit within the Nevada System of Higher Education to coordinate efforts among the University of Nevada School of Medicine, the UNLV School of Dental Medicine, UNR and UNLV's schools of Public Health, the state's nursing programs and other related health fields.

Each university and college would retain control of its programs, but they would work with a new vice chancellor to increase the number of health professionals graduating from the system, expand medical research and improve access to health care for Nevadans, Rogers said.

As second in command under that vice chancellor, based on this week's discussion, Reilly would develop the structure and financial plans to make the health science center a reality.

Rogers wants the state to double its funding of the medical school's operating budget to $51 million in the next biennium. He said the school needs an additional $270 million for new classroom, office and laboratory space in Reno and Las Vegas.

Reilly, the county government's top administrator since 2001, has been involved in the discussions for the health science center and recently attended a Board of Regents task force meeting on the topic.

Turner, who will be at the same level as the chief operating officer, starts her position in July with a salary of $165,000.

Rogers has not begun the search for the vice chancellor position, which he said will be filled by a public health doctor.