UVA Med School Faces Toxic Work Environment Allegations

Members of the University of Virginia (UVA) faculty senate have reportedly shown support for a group of medical school colleagues who have raised concerns about working conditions.

Stephen Culp, MD, PhD, of UVA School of Medicine and UVA Health in Charlottesville, addressed fellow members of the faculty senate late last week, contending that UVA administrators have been aware of allegations detailed in a letter to the university’s Board of Visitors earlier this month for the “better part of the year, if not more,” according to the Daily Progress.

The no-confidence letter against K. Craig Kent, MD, UVA Health’s CEO and executive vice president for health affairs at the University of Virginia, and Melina Kibbe, MD, dean of the school of medicine, includes allegations over concerns about patient safety, such as quality of new doctor hires; fear of retaliation against those who raise concerns about patient safety, capacity constraints, and moral distress; excessive spending on C-suite executives amid staffing shortages; and failure to be forthcoming on significant financial matters.

In contrast, recent remarks by UVA President James Ryan characterized the letter’s allegations as “generalized and anonymous claims of wrongdoing.”

But after Culp spoke before the faculty senate, fellow members of the group signaled their support. “Unsatisfied with the manner in which their administration is handling the ‘crisis’ at the School of Medicine, the faculty senate unanimously passed a motion to show support for their colleagues in the School of Medicine,” the Daily Progress reported.

Culp addressed fellow members of the faculty senate just a day after UVA’s Board of Visitors and Ryan agreed to retain outside counsel to conduct an independent review of the allegations raised in the letter, Becker’s Hospital Review reported.

The letter was signed by 128 physicians and faculty members, the outlet noted, and while UVA administrators have pointed out that 128 individuals do not reflect the entirety of 1,400 faculty members of the School of Medicine and 30,000 employees of UVA Health, Culp and supporters have countered that the letter likely has broader support that has been tempered by the fear of retaliation, the Daily Progress reported.

In an emailed statement, University spokesperson Brian Coy said that UVA’s Board of Visitors and Ryan “have agreed to retain outside counsel to conduct an independent review of the complaints and allegations raised by members of the UVA Medical School faculty in their letter dated Sept. 7, 2024.”

University leaders, including Kent and Kibbe, “agree on the need to pursue a thorough and independent review,” Coy added. “The Board and President Ryan will receive the findings of this review and work with UVA Health leaders to address any issues that may arise through this process.”

In an additional statement, UVA Health noted, “We are deeply committed to UVA Health and value the voices of our people. We fully support the external examination of faculty concerns and are committed to working together in good faith to hear all feedback and have constructive dialogue.”

Though, as reported by the Daily Progress, there have been concerns raised by faculty senate members and others regarding the independent review, namely that UVA has decided not to release the review’s findings.

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