The University of Virginia will have an outside firm conduct an independent review of allegations raised by members of the medical school, but the findings will have a very limited audience.
A five-page letter signed by 120 professors and healthcare workers demanded the “immediate removal” of two employees for creating a culture of fear and retaliation.
The letter called for the immediate resignations of K. Craig Kent, MD, UVA Health Chief Executive Officer, and Melina R. Kibbe, MD, the UVA School of Medicine dean and UVA Health chief health affairs officer.
The letter was delivered to the Board of Visitors on Sept. 5.
The letter alleges compromised patient safety, a culture of fear and retaliation, patient safety and public concern, devaluing the academic standards of promotions and tenure, excessive spending on executives, a failure to be forthcoming on significant financial matters and violating the approved code of ethics. The letter also says Kent and Kibbe have subjected residents to bullying and harassment.
UVA President Jim Ryan has said he will reserve “final judgement” until a thorough review is completed and promised to take the allegations seriously. He said the letter is “daunting” with “many accusations” and “few details.”
University leaders, including Kent and Kibbe, agreed on the need to pursue a thorough and independent review, according to the statement.
“The report will be delivered only to President Ryan and the Board. They will work with leaders in the health system to implement any needed changes,” the statement said.
UVA also delayed the release of 2022 report on shooting on Grounds
This isn’t the first time that UVA has kept an important report away from the public and media.
UVA rejected two Freedom of Information requests from a Charlottesville newspaper for the completed report on the 2022 shooting on Grounds that killed three students who played football at UVA: Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry and Lavel Davis Jr.
Ryan initially said the report would be released to the public when it was completed but later backtracked and said the report wouldn’t be released until criminal proceedings were complete.
“After conferring with counselors and Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingeley, we have decided that we need to wait until after the criminal proceedings to release further information,” Ryan said.
The 2022 report was completed by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, an international law firm, at the request of Virginia’s attorney general.
In August, Albemarle County Circuit Court Judge Melvin Hughes sided with UVA and the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office that the release of the report could affect the criminal trial.
The trial for the gunman should begin in 2025.
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Crystal Graham
