@premedmom1 OHSU: take accountability

 OHSU: Take accountability and reformative action. NOW.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RgNFBYdYN0CYmNccjKxVq1My5G2aCLlXRpHFvIhqtbw/edit

https://twitter.com/premedmom1/status/1366837697256456193

Link to Jason Campbell lawsuit: click here. 

It has been brought to my attention that OHSU has demonstrated explicit complacency and permissive behavior toward perpetrators who sexually harass, assault, and violate their workers. Throughout the course of a year, a resident physician had made sexual advancements towards a coworker, who reported these events to over 13 staff members at OHSU. The staff, also being mandatory reporters took no action, despite the evidence provided that the sexual harassment had been happening. This includes another victim to the same perpetrator coming forward and discussing their trauma. The victims had both disclosed that they were fearful of the person, yet nothing was done, no reports about the sexual misconduct, or the victim's safety were made. Additionally, the perpetrator had admitted his wrongdoings to his supervisor, who did nothing. 

OHSU even concluded that this doctor had violated their policies and code of conduct, but nothing was done. No action was taken to ensure the victim's safety. In fact, the victim faced retaliation while working-and even at home when their car was vandalized. OHSU was out of compliance and did not have a title IX Coordinator until 2016 when they added it to the AAEO Directors' title. AAEO: Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity. No reformative action was taken, and only “awareness campaigns” were made to hold people accountable. 

One of the hardest things I have read and face involves Dr. Esther Choo, who has a large social media following and is a co-founder of “TIME’S UP Foundation.” She was presented with the evidence and details about the assault and responded via text “Ugh, I’m giving him feedback.” She later said (in regards to reporting the sexual assault) “It’s never worth it. Never.” And continued to publicly post pictures with, and support the perpetrator… then offered to “sit down” with them and tell them to “cut it out.” Later, she was confronted about posting pictures with the perpetrator and said “you never told me about the assault of you” and “I don’t need policing by white women”

No safety measures were put in place, and at one point the survivor was told “we don’t take safety measures unless there is a crime.” They were then asked questions like “why did you not ask sooner.” “ Why did you wait?” Title IX coordinator additionally repeated they would cover mental health therapy for the victim. Despite this, on 09/30/20 OHSU told the victim's provider that they would NOT pay for the therapy because the “sexual misconduct fund had run out of money.” OHSU employee Ms. Shults later stated that OHSU would pay for the medical treatment "on the condition that the plaintiff sign a full release of claims." 

Let's go back a little further, from June 2017 to October 2017. The victim was sexually harassed and stalked by the former Emergency Medicine chair and stalked by his wife, who is a nurse at OHSU. The Nurse also made threats to the victim's child who is a minor. Despite the written and in-person threats by the wife, in addition to OHSU’s placed no-contact order, no reformative action was taken. One year after this complaint about 50 other complaints against the same physician were made, the physician then stepped down and had a “going away” party, where OHSU celebrated his accomplishments. Of note, Dr. Sharon Anderson informed the complainants that their complaints were unsubstantiated and they needed to move on. 

March 2017: The faculty survey demonstrates a large problem with sexual misconduct, no meaningful action was taken. 

February 2019: OHSU researchers published a study that found female surgeons were subject to gender discrimination while performing procedures.

March 11, 2019: OHSU promotes Dr. Azarow to Chair of Dept of Surgery despite his admission to engaging in sex discrimination

March 11, 2019: Dr. Anderson, Vice president of OHSU and Dean of Medical School said “Stuff happens all the time… and leaders hear about stuff...and some of it- not necessarily harassment or discrimination but just sort of um uh possibly inappropriate things you hear about...if it's somebody that you know is not a “chronic offender” you can sort of sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk and say “cut it out.”..” 

2019 survey: 5,300 responses. Results published in January 2020 indicated a high prevalence of sexual misconduct

September 2019: OHSU Leadership published a study showing sex discrimination in compensation 

Overall, this is a gross demonstration of complacency, victim-blaming, and victim shaming. OHSU blatantly violated title IX and needs to take reformative action immediately. OHSU needs to require all employees to participate in sexual misconduct investigations, and immediately remove all those involved in the neglect of the victim's safety from their leadership positions. Additionally, publicly apologize and take accountability, and provide step by step, transparent ways that they will protect their employees in the future. I am calling for all of the involved parties who created the pathway for the victim to continuously be harassed to be removed from their leadership roles IMMEDIATELY. Additionally, TIME’S UP Foundation to remove all involved parties from their leadership team and co-founder status. 

Quick bullet points 

• OHSU was in non-compliance with Title IX. Once they were, not even their title IX coordinator took action.

• OHSU did not support or back their employees who faced sexual assault, they actually protected the assailants in numerous cases

• To be blunt, their leadership is disgusting and this is a gross demonstration of the exact systemic problems victims face. They face these problems with institutions, healthcare workers, police, peers who portray themselves as performative activists. 

• OHSU has a history of glorifying its employees who sexually assault others and silencing the victims

• Over 13 employees, all of who are mandatory reporters did nothing

• TWO of these employees are founders of “Time’s up Healthcare” OHSU publicly praises and promotes Dr. Choo as one of their leaders in gender equity and sexual assault... On the Time’s up Healthcare “about” page there is a large picture of her with the quote “To all who have courageously shared your stories: TIME’S UP hears you. We see you. We are among you.” yet she told the victim “it is never worth it to report it.”