The head of the biggest department within Kansas University’s School of Medicine announced this week that she’s resigning.

Susan Pingleton, chairwoman of the department of internal medicine, said that her resignation would be effective at the end of June.

“She has decided to step down. … We’re very sorry to see her go. The only thing that I know is that she just had some other things she wanted to do,” said Dennis McCulloch, a spokesman for KU Hospital, which is affiliated with the medical school.

“We think the world of Sue Pingleton. She did some things for the hospital that people from all over the country come to check on.”

Pingleton oversees a staff of 110 faculty members with specialities including cardiology, cancer and endocrinology.

She came to KU in 1982 and has been head of the department for five years.

The resignation comes as leaders of Kansas University Medical Center – the medical arm of KU, which includes the schools of medicine, nursing and allied health – negotiate with leaders of KU Hospital on a plan that would start sending some of KU’s academic programs to St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.