BJH Security Strikes Again; a Sequel.

...I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were crying, and no one would help them. No one would help them, because their oppressors had power on their side.

- Eccl. 4:1 (GNT)

Don't be surprised when you see that the... [mighty oppress] ...the poor and denies them justice and their rights. Every official is protected by someone higher, and both are protected by still higher officials.

- Eccl. 5:8 (GNT)

Prior to Saturday July 9, 2011

• The events of Friday July 8, 2011 have been documented elsewhere. Please refer to my last blog for more specific details.
  
  
  
• To summarize:
• I had shown up to work.
• I was assaulted and brutally beaten by BJH Security personnel.
• All manners of false and misleading information about me was disseminated, including:
• I was “mentally unstable” and had a history thereof
• I had been terminated weeks prior due to "mental instability."
• I was held against my will and forcedly subjected to endure two different emergency department visits, back to back, under the false pretext that I was a danger to myself and other people.
• After being deemed to be of a normal frame of mind and psychiatrically “stable” by two hospitals, (which included one full psychiatric evaluation at SLU), I was released at around 7 am on 7/9/11.
• During the assault and battery on my person by BJH Security staff on 7/8/11, they had forcibly taken possession of my personal properties: a laptop and a thumb-drive.
• BJH/Wash U is still holding on to my thumb-drive.
  
  

Saturday, July 9, 2011

• I went back to BJH to request the return of my laptop.
  
  
  
• Upon arriving at the hospital, I proceeded directly to the Information Area near the water fountain at the South Entrance, a public area in the hospital.
  
  
  
• I called the security office, fully identified myself, and I requested my laptop be returned.
  
  
  
• I was informed, over the phone that my laptop was with “investigative services” and wouldn’t be returned; I replied that I will they should expect hearing from my lawyer.
  
  
  
• After ending the call, I went to the cafeteria, bought two drinks, and immediately exited the hospital.
  
  
  
• I met up with my brother at the South Entrance, gave him a drink, and we were headed to my car, when we were accosted by BJH Security, again.
  
  
  
• The event afterwards is as captured in the embedded video of the most recent post.

Concerning the Video:

• The video was shot by BJH Security people
• It was obtained via subpoena
• I am surprised that I was being fully tracked and followed by the camera.
  
  
• Throughout my encounter with the BJH Security, I neither was asked to leave the premises nor was accorded the courtesy of being escorted off the premises.
• There was a time I got up to leave but was shouted at to sit back down.
• I tried as much as possible to remain calm and cooperative.
  
  
  
• This was the first time I was informed that I was trespassing.
• I was quite surprised and informed them I was not aware of any restriction of my movement on the property, more so since I was still legally employed and a resident.
• The guards indicated that I had been warned the day before (while I was being severely beaten, detained, and violated?)
• I informed them that I do not recall conversation but will now take note of it.
• I asked that I be allowed to leave and will not return to the hospital; my request was denied.
  
  
  
• Given that I had just been seriously beaten and violated less than 24hrs prior by these same individuals, I stretched out my hands and my legs.
• In spite of my trying to be civil and cooperative, I was again assaulted, beaten up, sustaining serious physical injuries (including head trauma), not to mention the psychological and emotional trauma of experiencing 2 assaults (within 24 hours) at a hospital I’ve worked in for 3 years, at the hands of individuals I’ve bumped into (and greeted!) over the years.
  
  
  
• I was taken to the security center of BJH.
• I should point out that I was in serious pain due to my arms and wrists being twisted by the two security personnel that dragged me back into the hospital.
  
  
  

Interlude:

• While in the Security Center, amongst other things, I was cuffed with about 3 - 4 handcuffs, tightly.
• Repeated calls by me to ease the hand-cuffs were rebuffed
• I overheard that I was being charged with:
• Six counts of 3rd degree assault and
• One count of trespassing.
  
  
• I was taken to an outside hospital, St. Alexius, with both upper extremities cuffed to the stretcher.
• Mind you, I had sustained head trauma and was bleeding while in the Security Center.
  
  
  

Another Psych Evaluation (Again?):

• I later learned that the primary reason for the trip to St. Alexius Hospital was for yet another psychiatric evaluation for an alleged history of being mentally “unstable.”
  
  
  
• On arrival to St. Alexius, there was a palpable hesitation by the emergency room clinicians on the need of another psychiatric evaluation, given I had just undergone an evaluation less than 24hrs at Saint Louis University ED.
  
  
  
• I had to wait in another “padded room” for about 12-14 hrs until I was evaluated by a psychiatrist.
• The psychiatrist arrived at 12 midnight Sunday morning (7/10/11).
• While waiting:
• My left hand was cuffed to stretcher.
• My legs were cuffed together at the ankles.
• I was under arrest and guarded by St. Louis police officers.
• I was denied any form of contact with my family, lawyer, friends, etc, even though my family was in the waiting area adjacent to the ED (and waited for about 10 hours, straight.)
• Thankfully, I was, again, deemed mentally and psychiatrically stable and “fit for confinement.”
  
  
  
• I was consequently transported to jail.
• I was in a holding cell with tens of other individuals.
• I was chained-cuffed to other inmates; hungry and partially blind (my glasses had being taken by the police); and humiliated beyond words, until around 3:30pm on Monday July 11, 2011.
• A bond had to be posted in order to secure my release.
  
  

• At St. Alexius, I overheard comments about:
• BJH committing an EMTALA violation in transporting me to their facility without an accepting physician on their end.
• Various health providers struggling to understand the rationale behind my being transported to their facility when I could have been evaluated and treated at BJH.
• (At BJH, the ED was a couple of feet from the Security Center.)

Psych Eval.St. Alexius Hospital

On the Assault Charges:

• Six BJH Security officers alleged that I assaulted them during the incident captured in the video above.
  
  
• Luckily, and thank God, the assault charges were dropped by the prosecutor.

Police Incident Report

On the Trespass Charge:

• The basis by which BJH/Wash U is indicating that I trespassed on 7/09/11 is on the verbal warning I was allegedly given on Friday, while I was being beaten by these same individuals.
• I have no recollection of such warning.
• The case is still ongoing in court at this time.
  
  
  
• Going over things:
• A Saint Louis City summons was initially issued for the trespass charge on 07/09/11.
• By Sunday morning, after being deemed psychiatrically and mentally stable, the City Summons had been changed to a State of Missouri charge
• There is quite a significant difference between the City trespass charges vs. one from the State.
• Being found guilty of the trespass charge would make it next to impossible to practice medicine.
  
  
  
• I wonder:
• Why I am being charged for trespassing at a place I’ve been a resident for 3 years, and
• Why Wash U Psych Department haven’t intervened in any way.

City Court Summons

Trespass Charge 22nd Judicial Circuit Court

Letter From Protective Services

Letter July 13, 2011

Other Criminal Activities Alleged by BJH/Wash U:

• On 07/09/11, BJH/Wash U reported to the Federal authorities, in addition to the charges above, that I had made "threats" against the US Government and the US Army
• This triggered an investigation by the FBI and the Department of Defense.
• I have been cleared of all these allegations by these two organizations, after intensive scrutiny and investigation.
• I still remain a commissioned officer in the US Army.
  
  
• I am not exactly sure when or how on 7/9/11 I was supposed to have made these terror threats against the US Government or the US Army, as alleged by BJH/Wash U.

Jail time

• I spent almost 48hrs in a crammed holding cell for a crime I did not commit and based on allegations from people I had trusted and worked with for three solid years.
• This is one of the most hounding experiences of my life.
• If I do have the tendency of being "unstable," as alleged by BJH/Wash U, the environment and experience of jail was perfect for "destabilization" and  unmasking any "defenses."
• Unfortunately, there were some inmates who "lost it" and became frankly psychotic, while I was in jail.
•  BJH/Wash U is yet to articulate a cogent reason for their drumbeat assertion and mantra, alleging that I am "unstable."
  
  
• I had never been in jail before.
  
  
• I had never been in hand cuffs before.
  
  
• I had never been in leg cuffs before.

Barnes Jewish Hospital Security Guards Assault a Military Officer in Uniform

[This is] ...a world where some people have power and others have to suffer under them.

-Eccl. 8:9 (GNT)

This is a synopsis of some of the events that happened on 07/08/2011, the first day I was assaulted by BJH Security.

• I am a captain in the US Army Reserve; my unit is:
• AMEDD Professional Management Command (W85D01)
  4984 Jonesboro Road, Bldg 941
  Forest Park, GA 30297-3524
  
  
• I wasn’t scheduled to see any patient this day, and it is customary for residents to come in whatever attire they fancy.
  
  
• I showed up to clinic in my ACU’s in order to do some recruitment activities for the US Army. The day went beautifully up until about 3pm when I got a knock on my office door.
  
  
• Opening the door I saw quite a number of BJH security people, with their guns almost drawn.
  
  
• They asked “are you armed?” I replied in the negative.
  
  
• They stated I will be placed under arrest because according to the information they got from my department, I had been terminated “weeks ago.”

• I told them that they must have been misinformed because my contract with BJH is still on, at least until July 11, 2011; and that if they touch me, it will be an assault.
  
  
• They stated that they will call the police; I agreed that it was a prudent decision.
  
  
• I sat down on my chair, placed my hands behind my head and crossed my legs, which were on the table; I was in full view of the guards, seated calmly and waiting to have the cops called and arrive on the scene.
  
  
• Immediately thereafter someone stated “take him down” and I got the beating of my life, while in full military uniform and after fully identifying myself to them that I am a captain in the US Army and that I represent the President of United States.
  
  
• To cut the long story short, amongst the numerous injuries inflicted on me and other actions by BJH security, the following was also done:
• I was stripped
• My boots were taken off
• My person was completely searched
• My office was completely ransacked
• My backpack, personal items, and personal space was violated, searched, and scrutinized.
• My personal laptop and thumb drive was “ceased” by BJH security, on order from an HR manager who was present throughout the assault.
  
  
• During the melee I developed chest pains, hyperventilated and a syncope episode; although the emergency department was a couple of flights downstairs, instead they took me to an outside hospital, which was miles away.
  
  
• I was transported with both hands chained to the stretcher, my left hand was cuffed to the left side of the stretcher, and my right hand was cuffed to the right side of the stretcher.
  
  
• I overhead EMS people making up arbitrary claims that I had a history of “schizophrenia” and that I had had multiple prior psychiatric hospital hospitalization. (Of course, all these are false and I wonder where they got them from, Wash U Psych Dept?)
  
  
• I was taken to John Cochran VA hospital in St. Louis, from which I was later transferred to SLU hospital for further “medical and psychiatric evaluation”
  
  
• I had to spend another approximately 7 hours at SLU Emergency Department before being cleared psychiatrically and discharged; by this time, it was approximately 7am on Saturday July 9 2011.
  
  
• My laptop was finally returned by STL Police on 8/2/2011; I had given them permission to take possession of it from BJH/Wash U Psych Dept.
  
  
• BJH/Wash U Psych Dept still has possession of my thumb drive until now; they refuse to return it for reasons that are not entirely clear to me.

Affidavit For Psychiatric Hospitalization

SLU ER Discharge

Laptop Release

The "Dark Side" of Wash U Department of Psychiatry (Chairperson: Charles "Chuck" Zorumski, MD)

Response to Manicsleep on SDN

The following was my last post on SDN before the thread was taken down, for the second time:

Manicsleep had written

You voluntarily resigned...whats the big deal? Just walk away.

I replied:

That's part of the point though: I didn't voluntarily resign but forced to hand it in. Also, clinically, I completed my third year.


Concerning walking away, I'm not a person who's into big fights or has an "ego." I would have gladly left the program but all my transfer attempts was blocked by the program; they absolutely refused to let me transfer, while at the same time denying me from going on to 4th year, even though I fully and completely carried my own weight throughout 3rd year.


However, there's still so much to come, including:

• Being beaten up 2x (I'm still trying to fully recover)
• Labeled a "security threat," with a campus-wide email sent to the entire hospital staff, which had my DOB and picture.
• My picture was posted around the hospital that people should be on the look-out for me.
• I was hauled to three hospitals (all within a 48 hour period) for "psychiatric evaluations”; BJH/Wash U Psych claimed I was "mentally unstable" and that I had being "fired" for "mental instability."

Thank God, all the hospitals I was taken to for psych evaluation couldn't find anything to corroborate BJH/Wash U's story and was let go, after hours of being holed up in three different ER padded room. (Mind you, I'm talking about three different hospitals within a 24 hour period!)


As if the preceding wasn't enough, BJH/Wash U further leveled false charges against me: six counts of 3rd degree assault and one count of trespassing! I had to spend approximately 48hr in a holding cell with tens of other people; I only got out after posting a bond.


Luckily, the prosecutor dropped the six counts of assault but kept the trespass charge. The funny thing is: how can I be trespassing while I was still legally employed and was going about my normal business, like everyone else?


BTW, the two instances wherein I was physically assaulted by BJH security, I wasn't causing any form of commotion or constituting a public nuisance.


In the first assault instance, the security officers stormed my office (yes, I was inside my clinic office); although I fully cooperated with them, l was still "taken down." The second assault happened right outside the hospital, while I was on my way to my car.


The feds got involved because of the security threat allegations and cleared me, thankfully.


So, in a way, you beat me to the punch-line: a big part of what I'm doing is to get this stuff out there, for my own safety and that of my family; I'm not concerned about careers or professions at this point.


The real questions for everybody are:

• Why was I deemed as "mentally unstable," a "security threat," beaten up two times, hauled to jail for ~ 48 hours, and charged with assault and trespassing by my own department, which was supposed to be on my side?

And if any of the allegations was credible, then why did three hospitals clear me psychiatrically, the feds didn't find anything to substantiate the threat allegations, and the prosecutor dismissed the six counts of assault?


To say the least, I experienced the darkest side of psychiatry and the law at the hands of my own program. I have never been to jail or placed in hand-cuffs and/or leg-chains until my department concocted lies and false allegations against me.


I could care less about my psychiatric career but why go all the way to destroy my life? For what?


I'll keep up with my blog, for this issue has been dragging on since Nov/Dec 2010 up until now. During that period, I kept up with my clinical duties; I had no adverse clinical outcomes. I was also generally loved by my patients and the clinical staff, except for the authorities: Zorumski, Farber, and Harbit.


Oh, one last thing, all the beatings, being dragged to the hospitals, and false accusations occurred between July 8 - July 11; my third year was supposed to end on July 11.


Also, I can't go into finer details at this time; I will, however, be extremely wary of a program that can go to such extremes against someone who was supposed to be trained and nurtured. They could just have let me transfer out and complete my 4th year somewhere else.

2nd Year Eval by Dr. Dan Haupt

General Comments Section:

Dr. Alade performed impressively during his PGY 2 consult rotation. It was a pleasure to work with him, partly because it was clear that he is dedicated to helping others. His oral, dictated, and written exams were extremely reliable, likely related to the thoroughness of his evaluations. He was adept at recognizing when a pt had slipped through the cracks, and took responsibility for ensuring that the pt received the care they deserved. He spontaneously and independently worked to increase the database of dictated consults by creating dictations that reflected the written consultations that had occurred over the weekend. Consistent with these observations, he worked diligently with an elderly pt in making an important health care decision, taking ownership of ensuring that the pt understood the risks and benefits of his treatment options when it became clear that if Obie did not provide this service, no one else on the health care team would. The pt went on to trust Obie implicitly, and chose to receive care at a SNF despite initially being unwilling to consider this as a treatment option. I also observed Obie to quickly develop rapport with pts, including one pt who was intent on suicide. When I visited his pts in his absence, it was common for them to spontaneously compliment Dr. Alade's care. He considered the health of all of the pts on the team to be his responsibility, and in one situation worked to establish rapport and community support for an unfortunate woman from Togo who immigrated to the US as a sex worker, then developed new onset type 1 diabetes, even though it was not specifically his pt. Obie has a calm, respectful demeanor that is well-suited to the field of psychiatry. Pts sense his sincerity and his humility, and this likely contributes to his excellent information gathering ability. His calmness and patience is also appreciated by his colleagues. Obie handled himself particularly well under the stress of the busy consult service, in one situation providing excellent management of a consult from a disrespectful attending. While always polite, Obie would appropriately challenge any members of the health care team to treat pts with mental illnesses without bias or prejudice. Dr. Alade is already an excellent resident, and is likely to make great contributions to the practice of psychiatry.

Faculty Evaluation Of Resident, 2nd Year: Haupt, Dan

2nd Year Eval by Dr. Devna Rastogi

General Comments Section:

Obe had a strong performance during this rotation. He domonstrated good clinical skills and judgement. He had some very difficult cases, but handled them very well in a mature and sensitive manner. He was reliable and liked and respected by his patients.

Faculty Evaluation Of Resident, 2nd Year: Rastogi, Devna

2nd Year Eval by Dr. Yvette Sheline

General Comments Section:

Dr. Alade was excellent, tended to be so quiet that it was hard to tell that he was knowledgable in many different areas. Could use more practice in oral presentations, very responsible, very good rapport with patients. Excellent written consult notes.

Faculty Evaluation Of Resident, 2nd Year: Sheline, Yvette


Full Link: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=88974235

Email Series II

From: Farber, Nuri
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 5:08 PM
To: Alade, Oladimeji
Cc: Ford, Geraldine


Subject: Re: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Obie,

All residents are required to have an end-of-year meeting as part of residency training. This is the same meeting that you have had as a PGY1 and 2. As you know during these meetings we go over your work and I inform you of what still needs to be accomplished before the end of the academic year. I have just looked on your required task page. You have several outstanding tasks that need to be accomplished. If you have questions about what needs to be done, please talk with Gerry Ford. We expect all of our residents to complete their task list by the end of the academic year. Not accomplishing these tasks can adversely affect your ability to successfully complete your third year of training. As we did in January for your mid-year meeting, you will be meeting with both Dr. Harbit and myself. Please schedule a time to meet for this required meeting. Failure to comply with attending your end-of-year meeting can have negative consequences on your formal summative evaluation. This evaluation remains in your file permanently and is used to fill out forms we receive from outside agencies as well as other training programs.

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: Alade, Oladimeji
Sent: Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 11:11 AM
To: Farber, Nuri
Cc: McAlister, Rebecca; Drake, Tia; Tegtmeyer, Barbara; Zorumski, Charles; Rubin, Eugene; xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Dr. Farber:

I cannot sit with you or Dr. Harbit, either together or individually, without the presence of other faculty members, for any form of performance or residency evaluation.

Throughout my stay at this institution, you have exploited these review sessions to perpetuate verbal, psychological, and emotional abuse, as well as discriminative practices, against my person.

It was also during our last review session on February 14, 2011 (and not January, as you alleged) that you and Dr. Harbit overtly launched an intense and continuing emotional and psychological campaign against me, to prevent my successful completion of the residency training program.

I do not object with a meeting with the Residency Review Committee, along with my Legal Counsel, for the review session in question.

Perhaps ACGME should be contacted for full and explicit clarification of rules and procedures in cases such as this when there are ongoing allegations of unfair and discriminative practices by a resident against residency training program directors.

Alade, Oladimeji

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: McAlister, Rebecca
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 5:02 PM
To: Alade, Oladimeji; Farber, Nuri
Cc: Drake, Tia; Zorumski, Charles; Rubin, Eugene; Harbit (Swallow), Melissa; xxxxxxxxxx.xxx; Terra Mouser; Ramatowski, Christine


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Dr. Alade,
In review of your message below, I felt it is important that I follow up with you to confirm that you are aware of our institutional policies and processes for dealing with the concerns you have raised in your message. I would strongly encourage you to work with Dr. Farber’s office to identify appropriate faculty from the Department of Psychiatry to sit with you through the final evaluation meeting of your performance. This information will be important for you to understand as you develop your plans to further your education. However, the allegations of discrimination must be handled by BJH and WUSOM Human Resource Departments. You may recall from the phone conversation you had with Ms. Drake in my office several weeks ago that BJH Human Resources will need to be appraised of your claims of discrimination, so they can work closely with Washington University HR to begin a formal investigation. They will need to obtain detailed information from you to start this process. If you have not rendered a formal complaint with BJH Human Resources, I would strongly encourage you to immediately contact Caitlin O’Brien in their office to begin this process. I am also copying BJH legal services regarding this issue to make them aware of your concerns as well.

Sincerely

Rebecca P McAlister, MD
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Designated Institutional Official
WU/BJH/SLCH Educational Consortium

--------------------------------------------------------------


From: Alade, Oladimeji
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 10:34 AM
To: McAlister, Rebecca
Cc: Drake, Tia; Zorumski, Charles; Rubin, Eugene; Farber, Nuri; Harbit (Swallow), Melissa; xxxxxxxxxx.xxx; Terra Mouser; Ramatowski, Christine; O'Brien, Caitlin; Bettale, Jon; Ford, Geraldine


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Dr McAlister:

Good morning.

Thank you for your reply, and I am grateful for your interest and concern in this case.

I have contacted BJH HR about Drs. Farber and Harbit's ongoing unfair and discriminative practices, as well as historical abuses, towards me several weeks ago.

While in the HR office, I was directed to speak with Dr. Jon Bettale and his HR counterpart, and I gave them detailed information about my concerns about the Psychiatry Department and its Program Directors. The day following, I met with Ms. Caitlin O’Brien, who noted that she has been briefed about my meeting, and its contents, with Dr. Jon Bettale the day prior.

My attorney, XXXXXXXXXXXX, has also been in contact with your Legal Counsel, Ms. Ramatowski, about this issue for a while now.

In addition, Mr. Benzel of the Department of Labor, has also been in contact with the Psychiatry Department and BJH HR concerning Dr. Farber's discrimination against me, in regards to my military service. The last correspondence of Mr. Benzel was to a Mr. Larry asking that BJH provide specific details about this case.

To that end, I am somewhat surprised, judging from the your email, that you didn't know of the great lengths I have gone through to have these issues addressed; needless to say, prior to seeking a legal recourse, I had canvassed the entire psych department looking for some help and intervention. Nevertheless, I am very grateful of your current involvement.

I will follow the outline you have laid out in your email. However, this email should serve as my formal application for an investigation into all the issues surrounding my disputes with Drs. Farber and Harbit and the psych department. I will follow up with Ms. Caitlin O’Brien with the necessary details as indicated in your email.

In the interim, I would appreciate some clarification from you about ACGME's policies and procedures regarding the execution of the function of the program director's office, should they be non-neutral parties in an unresolved allegation.

Thank you very much; I am humbled and grateful.

Sincerely,

Alade, Oladimeji

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: McAlister, Rebecca
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 6:25 PM
To: Alade, Oladimeji
Cc: Drake, Tia; Zorumski, Charles; Rubin, Eugene; Farber, Nuri; Harbit (Swallow), Melissa; Terra Mouser; Ramatowski, Christine; O'Brien, Caitlin; Bettale, Jon


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Dear Dr Alde,

The institutional policy governing disciplinary policies for the WU/BJH/SLCH Educational Consortium can be found at the following link:

http://aladdin.wustl.edu/medadmin/gme/gme.nsf/d2a677860cb83e8f862565d7006b3303/617a1f8a867655d2862565d700737eeb?OpenDocument

Dr. Farber and the Department of Psychiatry advise me that, as part of the routine for all residents, you were given a copy of this among other policies on February 14, 2011. In your file is your signed statement that you received and understood this policy. On February 25, 2011, Dr. Farber notified you of the decision not to renew your contract for the next academic year and gave you the option to voluntarily withdraw from the program at the end of the year if you so wished. Dr Farber received your formal letter of resignation on March 5, 2011. According to the policy cited above, you had 30 calendar days to appeal this action to my office, but you did not. You did contact my office on May 11, 2011 and spoke to my GME manager Tia Drake about your concerns. Although this was beyond the timeframe for an appeal, Ms. Drake sent you this policy again on May 11, 2011 and, at your request, made an appointment for you to discuss your concerns with me on May 23, 2011. You later notified my office that you wished to cancel that appointment.

Our institution is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Their institutional requirements can be found on their website at acgme.org. That portion of the requirements dealing with nonreappointment of trainees is quoted below:

II.D.3. The Sponsoring Institution and program directors must ensure that residents are informed of and adhere to established educational and clinical practices, policies, and procedures in all sites to which residents are assigned.

II.D.4. The resident agreement/contract must contain or provide a reference to at least the following institutional policies:

II.D.4.a) Residents’ responsibilities;

II.D.4.b) Duration of appointment;

II.D.4.c) Financial support; and,

II.D.4.d) Conditions for reappointment

II.D.4.d).(1) Non-renewal of appointment or non-promotion: In instances where a resident’s agreement will not be renewed, or when a resident will not be promoted to the next level of training, the Sponsoring Institution must ensure that its programs provide the resident(s) with a written notice of intent no later than four months prior to the end of the resident’s current agreement. If the primary reason(s) for the non-renewal or non-promotion occurs within the four months prior to the end of the agreement, the Sponsoring Institution must ensure that its programs provide the resident(s) with as much written notice of the intent not to renew or not to promote as circumstances will reasonably allow, prior to the end of the agreement.

II.D.4.d).(2) Residents must be allowed to implement the institution’s grievance procedures if they receive a written notice either of intent not to renew their agreement(s) or of intent to renew their agreement(s) but not to promote them to the next level of training.

II.D.4.e) Grievance procedures and due process: The Sponsoring Institution must provide residents with fair, reasonable, and readily available written institutional policies and procedures for grievance and due process. These policies and procedures must minimize conflict of interest by adjudicating parties in addressing:

II.D.4.e).(1) Academic or other disciplinary actions taken against residents that could result in dismissal, non-renewal of a resident’s agreement, non-promotion of a resident to the next level of training, or other actions that could significantly threaten a resident’s intended career Institutional Requirements 6
Effective: July 1, 2007
development; and,
II.D.4.e).(2) Adjudication of resident complaints and grievances related to the work environment or issues related to the program or faculty.

The appeals process for the academic decision that resulted in your nonrenewal of contract was made more than 4 months before the end of your contract year. You had been fully informed of all applicable policies by the Department of Psychiatry. You did not choose to exercise the appeals process utilized by our institution in the allowable time frame. Your allegations of discrimination by the Department are being investigated by Human Resources. Such allegations are not investigated by my office. Your discussions with Human Resources are protected and not accessible to me or my office staff. I have every confidence that the Human Resources staff will perform a thorough investigation and address any confirmed areas of concern.

Sincerely

Rebecca P McAlister, MD
Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Washington University School of Medicine
Designated Institutional Official, WU/BJH/SLCH Educational Consortium

[
Comments:

There were so many distortions of facts in this email and it appeared that Dr. McAllister lost her objectivity, suddenly; I didn't see the need to reply this email.
]


--------------------------------------------------------------


From: Farber, Nuri
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 12:26 PM
To: Alade, Oladimeji
Cc: McAlister, Rebecca; Drake, Tia; Tegtmeyer, Barbara; Zorumski, Charles; Harbit (Swallow), Melissa; Ford, Geraldine


Subject: Re: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Obie,

I'm sorry that you perceive the interactions with Dr. Harbit and myself as anything other than professional.  I and Dr. Harbit have never used these meetings nor any interactions with you as a forum to verbally, psychologically or emotionally abuse you, nor have we discriminated against you.  We have simply followed our procedures and policies for dealing with issues as they arise during training.

As I mentioned in my previous email, having these twice a year meetings is a requirement of the ACGME so that the Program can review the progress that a resident is making in his or her training and inform the resident about areas that need special attention.  They are even done for fourth year residents, who are graduating, or for residents, who are leaving the program.  We use the time to go over written reviews, patient logs, assigned tasks, issues, etc.  If you want to have another faculty member of your choosing present, when you meet with Dr. Harbit and me, I am fine with that.  The person can be any current MD faculty member of the Department who is engaged in residency training.   Legal counsel (either the Program's or yours) are not allowed.  Please let me know whom you would like to be present for the meeting and I will have Gerry find a time for all of us to meet.    These are the things that I have that are still outstanding that must be accomplished before you can successfully complete your third year of training:

1) You must read and certify that you have read the goals and objectives.
2) You must update your training profile.
3) You must turn in your signed psychotherapy outlines.
4) You must term in your signed psychotherapy case discussions.
5) You must turn in completed patient logs for all three clinic sites.
6) You must do your self-evaluation.
7) You must turn in your attending evaluations.
8) You must turn in your evaluations for the adult and child clinics.
9) You must turn in your 4 course evaluations.
10) You must have your attendance in the 4 main courses (Grand Rounds, Tuesday am resident lecture, Adv Resident lecture, Research Seminar) above 70%.  If attendance is less than 70%, then you must write 1-2 page reports of acceptable quality that reviews the material covered in the lectures that you missed.  Of the 4 courses, you are delinquent in Adv Resident Seminar (68.8%) and Research Seminar (56.5%).  By my count you will need to turn in one report on a topic from the Advance Resident Seminar and reports on 3 separate topics from Research Seminar.
11) You will need to turn in all keys, badges, pagers to the Department at the end of your last day of work.
12) Complete all your required chart work.

Note: #1-9 are listed in your Resident Assigned Tasks page on the intranet.  #10 is something we have discussed in previous meetings and is something that is covered in the end of year meeting.  #11 and #12 are routine things we cover in the meeting.

Sincerely,
 --
Nuri B. Farber, M.D.
Director, Residency Training Program
Department of Psychiatry
Washington University

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: Alade, Oladimeji
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 11:08 AM
To: Farber, Nuri
Cc: McAlister, Rebecca; Drake, Tia; Tegtmeyer, Barbara; Zorumski, Charles; Harbit (Swallow), Melissa; Ford, Geraldine; Ramatowski, Christine; Terra Mouser; Disabato, Brianne; Haupt, Dan; Bierut, Laura; Bishop, Monica


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Dr. Farber:

I have no confidence in you and do not trust you or Dr. Harbit.

I had trusted you and Dr. Harbit in a similar situation such as this last March, wherein you and Dr. Harbit, illegally and forcefully demanded my resignation from the residency program. However, based on the reports I'm receiving, you and Dr. Harbit are claiming, and presenting the whole issue, as a voluntary resignation on my part. Sir, that is a lie!

In regards to the end of the year meeting and my faculty preference, I would like to have Dr. Richardson present, should he be willing.

I am also hereby formally appealing and contesting my last evaluation at the Wohl Clinic, for the months of November - March; it doesn't present a true and accurate representation of my clinical skills nor medical knowledge. Moreover, I am surprised that it alleges that I am "in remediation," whereas I have not received any notification, either formally or informally, of such measures or the rationale behind the decision.

Regarding the outstanding tasks you had enumerated, I am aware of them and in the midst of their completion.

Alade, Oladimeji

[
The evaluation in question lists 4 attendings as my evaluators, with whom I had no clinical contact with during the said period: Laura Bierut, Monica Bishop, Melissa Harbit, and Daniel Haupt.


The clinical interactions I had with Brianne Disabato, with regards to the scope covered by the evaluation was minimal at best.
]

--------------------------------------------------------------


From: Alade, Oladimeji
Date: Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:00 AM
To: Farber, Nuri
Cc: McAlister, Rebecca, Drake, Tia, Tegtmeyer, Barbara, Zorumski, Charles, Harbit (Swallow), Melissa, Ford, Geraldine, Ramatowski, Christine, Rubin, Eugene


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Dr. Farber:

Given that:

• I am not (and have not) been fairly treated
  
  
• The spirit of due process (in light of historical and ongoing events), as stipulated by ACGME, hasn’t been followed, by you, the Psychiatry Department, Wash U, and BJH in matters relating to me
  
  
• The readily apparent conflicts of interests, on several levels, at Wash U and BJH, in regards to my current situation, brought on by:
  
  
• Your, and Dr. Harbit's, unfair and discriminative practices against me
  
  
• Your historical verbal, emotional, and psychological abuses towards me
  
  
• I will not be attending this meeting until these issues are resolved.
  

Alade, Oladimeji


--------------------------------------------------------------

From: Alade, Oladimeji
Date: Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 11:21 AM
To: Zorumski, Charles
Cc: McAlister, Rebecca; Drake, Tia; Farber, Nuri; Harbit (Swallow), Melissa; Disabato, Brianne; Rubin, Eugene; Haupt, Dan; Bierut, Laura; Mouser, Terra; Ford, Geraldine; Richardson, Thomas; Cloninger, Robert


Subject: Re: My Current Situation

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

Dr. Zuromski:

Good morning.

I remember clearly when I interviewed here in December 2007; you and Dr. Cloninger particularly stood out amongst my interviewers.

I was bedazzled by Dr. Cloninger's keen insight and intuition and use of a thermodynamic construct to explain psychiatric principles, which displayed a phenomenal ability to abstract from infinitely complex principles across seemingly disparate domains. I was mightily impressed and amazed by your simplicity, depth of knowledge, and approachability. My interactions with both of you, was the main reason why I highly ranked Wash U.

Since becoming a resident here, my initial impressions have been confirmed many times over. Furthermore, our interactions, exchange of ideas, and your gentle tutelage during your Thursday's lecture series, further solidified your image in my mind and I felt quite comfortable with you.

All these were what informed my decision to run to you at the first sign of trouble on February 18, 2011 at 3pm. That was the Friday of the Monday I met with Drs. Farber and Harbit, during which they first informed me of a possible pending dismissal from the residency program.

During our meeting on that fateful day, I informed you of my historical difficulties and perceived unfair handedness in my interactions with Dr. Farber since joining the program. I also told you that, in the entirety of my experience in the Psych Department, there seems to be a gnawing absence of empathy.

I further informed you, that at the very beginning of my third year, I had pressing family issues and some personal existential questions in regards to the depth and intensity of the psychosocial stressors and psychiatric needs of the patient population the Wohl Psychiatry Clinic. I also informed you that I had resolved these issues and have become a better clinician in light of these personal experiences.

At the same meeting, I informed you that my primary goal is to complete the psychiatry residency training program, and that I was willing to work with faculty and staff to ensure my completion of the residency training. I even informed you that I have some ideas that could potentially enhance the overall training experience in the program (and I sent you an email to that effect the following day.)

Throughout our meeting, you were kind, reassuring, and thoughtful. You informed that you were aware that a letter was to be sent out to me and of the possibility of an unfavorable action towards me. You stated that your "role" was to look for ways for me to complete the residency but that "I cannot guarantee anything." You nevertheless enjoined and encouraged me not to worry but to enjoy my weekend as things will work out fine.

Overall, my experience at Wash U and BJH has neither been fair nor pleasant. Nevertheless, the most striking observation is the relative quietness of faculty members, fellow residents, and staff about my ongoing plight. All I have been canvassing for (and I'm still requesting) is a full and fair investigation into the issues I have raised.

Sir, you are a student of history. Looking back at Nazi Germany, the atrocities Hitler perpetuated against fellow flesh and blood and uniquely human lives will not have been possible without the implicit and tactic silence of the German citizenry.

Ultimately, the decisions, actions, and inactions of the Drs. Farber and Harbit reflect the integrity of the Psychiatry Department. It logically follows that the reflection of the Psychiatry Department, reflects the integrity of its leadership.

We all have a role to play in creating a fair, equitable, and nurturing environment. Institutions do not spontaneously derive a life of their own, they represent the overall traits, characters, and fears of its comprising individuals.

Sincerely,

Alade, Oladimeji

Email Series I

From: Ford, Geraldine
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 8:57 AM
To: Alade, Oladimeji


Subject: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Call me as soon as possible to schedule your end of year meeting with Dr. Farber. I need to get these meetings scheduled by Wednesday.

Thank you.

Gerry Ford
Residency Coordinator
Department of Psychiatry, Box 8134
Washington University School of Medicine
660 South Euclid Avenue
St Louis MO 63110

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: Alade, Oladimeji
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 7:53 PM
To: Ford, Geraldine


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Hi Gerry:

I'll have to consult with my attorney regarding this.

Thanks.

Obie

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: Ford, Geraldine
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 7:38 AM
To: Alade, Oladimeji


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Ok.

Gerry Ford
Residency Coordinator
Department of Psychiatry, Box 8134
Washington University School of Medicine
660 South Euclid Avenue
St Louis MO 63110

--------------------------------------------------------------

[
Comments:

I got a page from Gerry early Friday morning (Friday, June 17, 2011) that I need to schedule the meeting with Dr. Farber; I informed her that I will get back to her before the end of the day.

However, I couldn't get in touch with my attorney, despite numerous calls; I consequently sent the following email.
]

--------------------------------------------------------------


From: Alade, Oladimeji
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 3:40 PM
To: Ford, Geraldine
Cc: xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

Hi Gerry:

Further to our phone conversation this morning and given the ongoing dispute I have with the residency program and Dr. Farber, I will not be able to meet with him one on one.

Should there be further question regarding this issue, please contact my attorney:

XXXXXXXXXX
Phone: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Email: XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thanks.

Obie

--------------------------------------------------------------

From: Gerry Ford
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:44:04 -0500
To: Alade, Oladimeji


Subject: RE: end of year meeting with Dr. Farber

You would be meeting with Dr. Farber and Dr. Harbit together. Will that be possible?

Gerry Ford
Residency Coordinator
Department of Psychiatry, Box 8134
Washington University School of Medicine
660 South Euclid Avenue
St Louis MO 63110

An Open Letter to Charles "Chuck" Zorumski, MD, Chairperson of Washington University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

Dr. Zorumski:

Good morning.

I remember clearly when I interviewed here in December 2007; you and Dr. Cloninger particularly stood out amongst my interviewers.

I was bedazzled by Dr. Cloninger's keen insight and intuition and use of a thermodynamic construct to explain psychiatric principles, which displayed a phenomenal ability to abstract from infinitely complex principles across seemingly disparate domains. I was mightily impressed and amazed by your simplicity, depth of knowledge, and approachability. My interactions with both of you, was the main reason why I highly ranked Wash U.

Since becoming a resident here, my initial impressions have been confirmed many times over. Furthermore, our interactions, exchange of ideas, and your gentle tutelage during your Thursday's lecture series, further solidified your image in my mind and I felt quite comfortable with you.

All these were what informed my decision to run to you at the first sign of trouble on February 18, 2011 at 3pm. That was the Friday of the Monday I met with Drs. Farber and Harbit, during which they first informed me of a possible pending dismissal from the residency program.

During our meeting on that fateful day, I informed you of my historical difficulties and perceived unfair handedness in my interactions with Dr. Farber since joining the program. I also told you that, in the entirety of my experience in the Psych Department, there seems to be a gnawing absence of empathy.

I further informed you, that at the very beginning of my third year, I had pressing family issues and some personal existential questions in regards to the depth and intensity of the psychosocial stressors and psychiatric needs of the patient population the Wohl Psychiatry Clinic. I also informed you that I had resolved these issues and have become a better clinician in light of these personal experiences.

At the same meeting, I informed you that my primary goal is to complete the psychiatry residency training program, and that I was willing to work with faculty and staff to ensure my completion of the residency training. I even informed you that I have some ideas that could potentially enhance the overall training experience in the program (and I sent you an email to that effect the following day.)

Throughout our meeting, you were kind, reassuring, and thoughtful. You informed that you were aware that a letter was to be sent out to me and of the possibility of an unfavorable action towards me. You stated that your "role" was to look for ways for me to complete the residency but that "I cannot guarantee anything." You nevertheless enjoined and encouraged me not to worry but to enjoy my weekend as things will work out fine.

Overall, my experience at Wash U and BJH has neither been fair nor pleasant. Nevertheless, the most striking observation is the relative quietness of faculty members, fellow residents, and staff about my ongoing plight. All I have been canvassing for (and I'm still requesting) is a full and fair investigation into the issues I have raised.

Sir, you are a student of history. Looking back at Nazi Germany, the atrocities Hitler perpetuated against fellow flesh and blood and uniquely human lives will not have been possible without the implicit and tactic silence of the German citizenry.

Ultimately, the decisions, actions, and inactions of the Drs. Farber and Harbit reflect the integrity of the Psychiatry Department. It logically follows that the reflection of the Psychiatry Department, reflects the integrity of its leadership.

We all have a role to play in creating a fair, equitable, and nurturing environment. Institutions do not spontaneously derive a life of their own, they represent the overall traits, characters, and fears of its comprising individuals.

Thank You.

Alade, Oladimeji