- Joined
- Jul 27, 2003
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
People of color: DO NOT COME TO STANFORD MED!! RACIST SCHOOL!
Two advisors are leaving or suing the School due to racial discrimination - please email to your colleagues!!
In Today's Mercury News in the Bay Area:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/education/11674606.htm
Text here:
Surgeon sues Stanford
PROFESSOR ALLEGES RACIAL, GENDER DISCRIMINATION
By Lisa M. Krieger
Mercury News
Medical Professor Denise Johnson has sued Stanford University and hospital, alleging racial and gender discrimination.
Johnson, surgical director of the hospital's melanoma program and the only female African-American surgeon on staff, contends in her lawsuit that Stanford did not provide her with the same compensation, staff support and opportunities as doctors who were white or male.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Santa Clara County Superior Court, also alleges that Johnson was precluded from many surgeries, threatening her research. Additionally, it alleges that Johnson faced retaliation from other doctors after she complained about discrimination and told an official that other surgeons earned more than she did.
``We believe Dr. Johnson's case is without merit,'' said Paul B. Costello of Stanford Medical Center's Office of Communication and Public Affairs. ``Dr. Johnson alleges a pattern of employment discrimination against her. However . . . during the past few years, Dr. Johnson has been promoted in two instances: First, to an assistant dean for medical student advising in September 2002 and second, from assistant to associate professor in the medical school in May 2003.''
Johnson's complaint alleges several specific examples of discrimination and retaliation.
One of the most notable was April 20, when she was accused of being impaired due to substance abuse. Johnson's complaint says she tested negative for drugs -- but was told, falsely, that her patient care privileges were suspended.
Additionally, she alleges that she was told by the hospital's ``Well-Being of Physicians Committee'' that she should be evaluated by an addiction specialist and submit to random drug testing -- steps not required of other doctors at the hospital. Stanford denied that she is required to submit to random drug testing.
``I cannot remember a greater case of a grave injustice of a woman surgeon than the way Stanford treated Denise Johnson,'' said attorney and former congressman Pete McCloskey, a third-generation Stanford alumnus who met Johnson several years ago.
Johnson attorney Kathleen M. Lucas of San Francisco said, ``This is an opportunity for Stanford to show their commitment to correcting an inequity.''
Her lawsuit is seeking to prevent the random drug testing, which she calls a violation of privacy. She also is seeking unspecified punitive damages, as well as lost wages, lost employment benefits and lost business, and compensation for emotional distress.
The complaint comes at a time when university officials are striving to improve the climate for women and minorities on campus. In 2001, Provost John Etchemendy appointed a committee on the status of women faculty to find ways for the university to boost the success of women.
But progress has been slow. A report presented by the provost at an April faculty senate meeting described minor gains in the numbers of minorities and women over the past year. As of September, women made up 23 percent of Stanford's faculty, only 0.4 percentage points more than a year before.
Minority representation grew by the same incremental amount, from 16.8 percent to 17.2 percent. Most of the growth was in Asian-American faculty members -- there was a 2.2 percent drop in African-American faculty members. Only 2.5 percent of faculty is black.
The university was stung by a series of lawsuits in the 1990s, most settled out of court, criticizing its treatment of women, particularly in the medical center.
Since 1998, the U.S. Department of Labor has been investigating whether Stanford engaged in widespread sex discrimination in hiring and promotion. Some aspects of this have been resolved, but others are ongoing. Johnson is one of 32 current and former female faculty members participating in this investigation.
Johnson joined Stanford in 1991 and became acting chief of surgery and chief of general surgery at the Stanford-affiliated Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She said she suffered steady harassment from her superiors and was ultimately fired in 1997 because she refused to take part in firing or demoting two physicians.
She was later hired at Stanford University Hospital, where she spearheaded the development of a breast cancer and melanoma program. She has been recognized by the university for excellence in teaching and mentoring.
Lucas said Johnson was not available for comment Tuesday, but she said Johnson wants to stay at Stanford and continue her practice and research.
In an interview with the university newspaper Stanford Report last year, Johnson said she cherished being a member of a talented and multidisciplinary group that was working toward better treatments for breast cancer and melanoma.
``I want to improve, not just replicate medicine. . . . That's been the joy of being at Stanford,'' she said.
Two advisors are leaving or suing the School due to racial discrimination - please email to your colleagues!!
In Today's Mercury News in the Bay Area:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/education/11674606.htm
Text here:
Surgeon sues Stanford
PROFESSOR ALLEGES RACIAL, GENDER DISCRIMINATION
By Lisa M. Krieger
Mercury News
Medical Professor Denise Johnson has sued Stanford University and hospital, alleging racial and gender discrimination.
Johnson, surgical director of the hospital's melanoma program and the only female African-American surgeon on staff, contends in her lawsuit that Stanford did not provide her with the same compensation, staff support and opportunities as doctors who were white or male.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Santa Clara County Superior Court, also alleges that Johnson was precluded from many surgeries, threatening her research. Additionally, it alleges that Johnson faced retaliation from other doctors after she complained about discrimination and told an official that other surgeons earned more than she did.
``We believe Dr. Johnson's case is without merit,'' said Paul B. Costello of Stanford Medical Center's Office of Communication and Public Affairs. ``Dr. Johnson alleges a pattern of employment discrimination against her. However . . . during the past few years, Dr. Johnson has been promoted in two instances: First, to an assistant dean for medical student advising in September 2002 and second, from assistant to associate professor in the medical school in May 2003.''
Johnson's complaint alleges several specific examples of discrimination and retaliation.
One of the most notable was April 20, when she was accused of being impaired due to substance abuse. Johnson's complaint says she tested negative for drugs -- but was told, falsely, that her patient care privileges were suspended.
Additionally, she alleges that she was told by the hospital's ``Well-Being of Physicians Committee'' that she should be evaluated by an addiction specialist and submit to random drug testing -- steps not required of other doctors at the hospital. Stanford denied that she is required to submit to random drug testing.
``I cannot remember a greater case of a grave injustice of a woman surgeon than the way Stanford treated Denise Johnson,'' said attorney and former congressman Pete McCloskey, a third-generation Stanford alumnus who met Johnson several years ago.
Johnson attorney Kathleen M. Lucas of San Francisco said, ``This is an opportunity for Stanford to show their commitment to correcting an inequity.''
Her lawsuit is seeking to prevent the random drug testing, which she calls a violation of privacy. She also is seeking unspecified punitive damages, as well as lost wages, lost employment benefits and lost business, and compensation for emotional distress.
The complaint comes at a time when university officials are striving to improve the climate for women and minorities on campus. In 2001, Provost John Etchemendy appointed a committee on the status of women faculty to find ways for the university to boost the success of women.
But progress has been slow. A report presented by the provost at an April faculty senate meeting described minor gains in the numbers of minorities and women over the past year. As of September, women made up 23 percent of Stanford's faculty, only 0.4 percentage points more than a year before.
Minority representation grew by the same incremental amount, from 16.8 percent to 17.2 percent. Most of the growth was in Asian-American faculty members -- there was a 2.2 percent drop in African-American faculty members. Only 2.5 percent of faculty is black.
The university was stung by a series of lawsuits in the 1990s, most settled out of court, criticizing its treatment of women, particularly in the medical center.
Since 1998, the U.S. Department of Labor has been investigating whether Stanford engaged in widespread sex discrimination in hiring and promotion. Some aspects of this have been resolved, but others are ongoing. Johnson is one of 32 current and former female faculty members participating in this investigation.
Johnson joined Stanford in 1991 and became acting chief of surgery and chief of general surgery at the Stanford-affiliated Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She said she suffered steady harassment from her superiors and was ultimately fired in 1997 because she refused to take part in firing or demoting two physicians.
She was later hired at Stanford University Hospital, where she spearheaded the development of a breast cancer and melanoma program. She has been recognized by the university for excellence in teaching and mentoring.
Lucas said Johnson was not available for comment Tuesday, but she said Johnson wants to stay at Stanford and continue her practice and research.
In an interview with the university newspaper Stanford Report last year, Johnson said she cherished being a member of a talented and multidisciplinary group that was working toward better treatments for breast cancer and melanoma.
``I want to improve, not just replicate medicine. . . . That's been the joy of being at Stanford,'' she said.
