Commentary: What happens when a combined entity is lesser than the sum of its parts?

Elsewhere in this issue, Kastor examines the failed merger of the Mount Sinai and New York University (NYU) medical schools and hospitals. The failure of the merger is even more remarkable today than it was when the hospitals began disassociating in 2001. Today, both Mount Sinai and NYU hospitals and medical schools are stronger than they were when merger discussions began, and they are certainly far stronger than when the merger began to unwind. This fact calls into question the validity of the assumptions that initiated the desire to merge, as well as the execution of the merger. The author of this commentary offers his perspective as a leader with more than 40 years of experience at Mount Sinai. He examines the reasons behind dissolving the merger and the factors that have led to Mount Sinai's success since then.