San Francisco’s Brown and Toland Medical Group, already rocked by the loss of a long-standing partnership with UCSF, now has to find new corporate leadership, as chief executive officer Gloria Austin is announcing her resignation “toward the end of the year.” Austin has been CEO since May 2000.

In a statement, Austin touted B&T’s recent accomplishments.

“By the time I leave, Brown & Toland will have executed a new partnership with California Pacific Medical Center, implemented a management agreement with Alta Bates Medical Group, and deployed an enterprise-wide electronic health record to more than 200 physicians,” she said.

According to a B&T spokesman, Austin’s resignation had more to do with the burden of communting between Salt Lake City and the Bay Area than any recent performance issues.

"She's been doing this for 10 years," the spokesman said in the SF Business Times, "and she lives in Salt Late City."

Despite losing roughly 500 UCSF doctors to rival Hill Physicians, Brown & Toland officials said in a statement that the group represents more than 800 primary care physicians in San Francisco who care for 160,000 HMO enrollees and 175,000 PPO members.

According to a report in the SF Business Times, the board has formed a succession committee and retained a firm to assist with the process.