haven't read the replies all that carefully, but i feel like i'd be breaking from the pack to suggest that you probably shouldn't have gone out of your way to contravene the chair.

Sawbones:

over half of our current trainees are foreign graduates (FGs), and there is some stigma attached to this – it is generally seen as the sign of a weaker program... top candidates become harder to attract once that perception has solidified.

obviously, i have no idea how things work in your world, but if the above quote is true, i have a hard time seeing how what you did helps "toward realizing everyone’s longer-term goals." in other words, i read your chair to have a vision for the organization and its future. you've interjected (not necessarily to its detriment, but apparently rubbing against the grain of conventional wisdom).

i assume, of course, that your input (even dissent) is welcomed. but i wonder if you overstepped your bounds.