Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Penn Medicine\u2019s Scheie Eye Institute and Wills Eye Hospital \u2014 which has struggled financially for years<\/a> \u2014 are in talks about forming an ophthalmology partnership, according to a message this week to employees from Wills CEO and ophthalmologist-in-chief Julia A. Haller.<\/p>\n The note to employees Tuesday said Wills and Penn had signed a preliminary deal for a joint operating agreement. The two sides will now \u201cconduct due diligence, and evaluate opportunities to strengthen collaboration in patient care, research, education and training,\u201d Haller\u2019s message said.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to assure you that this process will be very deliberate, and that Wills Eye Hospital will remain an independently licensed hospital, will retain its name and brand, and will remain a trust of the City of Philadelphia, with its current board leadership,\u201d the employee message said.<\/p>\n Penn said in an email that the partnership talks will consider whether bringing Wills and Penn\u2019s ophthalmology department \u201ccould expand access for patients, accelerate research and innovation, strengthen education and training, increase the organizations\u2019 collective impact in ophthalmology.\u201d<\/p>\n Wills and Penn both noted the possibility that they won\u2019t reach a final agreement.<\/p>\n Haller\u2019s communication with employees did not mention Wills\u2019 long affiliation with Jefferson Health<\/a>\u2019s Thomas Jefferson University<\/a> Hospital. Jefferson\u2019s Sidney Kimmel Medical College sponsors Wills\u2019 ophthalmology residency program<\/a>, which has 24 participants, according to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are disappointed that Wills Eye has decided to end our longstanding relationship and pursue a different path after more than 50 years of partnership,\u201d Jefferson said in an email. Jefferson, the region\u2019s largest health system, said it will \u201cpursue partnerships and growth opportunities that expand access to high-quality eye care across the region.\u201d<\/p>\n Potential turning point for Wills Eye<\/p>\n Wills, founded in 1832 and controlled by a board that oversees bequests to the city, has logged at least 11 straight years of operating losses<\/a>. Its leading competitors nationally are owned by larger health systems or universities.<\/p>\n Wills reported $109. 8 million in revenue and a $15.9 million operating loss in the 12 months that ended June 30, 2025. Results for fiscal 2026 have not yet been made public.<\/p>\n An agreement with Penn would mark a significant turn for Wills, which has been affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City since 1972<\/a>, according to a timeline on Wills\u2019 website. It functioned as the hospital\u2019s ophthalmology department, with Haller as chair, but that role for Haller has ended.<\/p>\n Jefferson said Thursday it appointed Robert Sergott, a neuro-ophthalmology specialist, as interim chair of ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, effective immediately.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not clear how other aspects of the Wills-Jefferson relationship will be impacted. <\/p>\n