UT System officials say they acted forcefully to address questions about Dr. Kern Wildenthal, who resigned Tuesday from a key UT Southwestern Medical Center post after an internal investigation of his spending.

"As a public institution supported by the taxpayers of Texas, it is incumbent upon us to take swift and immediate action to address allegations of impropriety in any area of our operations," Board of Regents' Chairman Gene Powell said in a news release issued last night.

He added: "Not to do so would question the board's fiduciary responsibilities and seriously jeopardize the public's trust in our ability to honestly and professionally carry out our mission of education, patient care, research and service."

The regents and UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa authorized the internal inquiry in November after The Dallas Morning News provided Wildenthal a detailed list of questions...