IS IT TRUE THAT UVA HEALTH SENIOR LEADERS HAVE WEAPONIZED ASPIRE VALUES AGAINST OUR DOCTORS?
We are Concerned Citizens of Charlottesville and Patients of UVA Health who are troubled by what we have heard from many UVA Health professionals over the past year.
These professionals are not only our doctors and nurses but also our friends, family and neighbors. They are not willing to use their names yet out of fear of retaliation by UVA Health senior leaders. We believe our community should value and protect its healthcare providers who have dedicated their lives to helping UVA patients.
We have repeatedly heard that UVA Health’s ASPIRE values have been weaponized to punish our doctors.
We’ve been told despite our doctors having successfully navigated years of education, residency and fellowships at prestigious medical institutions followed by years and even decades of outstanding service as doctors and faculty to UVA’s patients and students, their careers have been blemished, derailed and potentially irreparably harmed by ASPIRE values policies.
We have been advised by counsel that merely asking these questions could result in UVA Health senior leaders taking the following actions against their patients and concerned members of their community:
Send threatening cease and desist letters in an attempt to silence these questions.
Retaliate against the UVA Health professionals who are speaking out.
Deny the validity of any of this.
We’re dismayed by all of this. We do not take it lightly when we ask you:
1. Is it true that respected and accomplished doctors were summoned individually by UVA Health senior leaders for meetings with no stated agenda in which the doctors were outnumbered? And then informed they had allegedly committed ASPIRE values violations?
2. Is it true that several doctors received letters signed by the UVA School of Medicine Dean or other UVA Health senior leaders informing them of some or all of the following:
They violated the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs’ ASPIRE Values policy that governs their employment and clinical privileges.
They must adhere to the ASPIRE values.
They must be held accountable to the ASPIRE values.
The letter would be part of their Human Resources (HR) file.
3. Is it true that these ASPIRE values violation letters have been cited as justification to block Promotion and Tenure for doctors who otherwise have strong if not exemplary academic and professional standing?
Can you help us understand if any of this is true and if so…
What is going on at UVA Health?
A Parrhesiastes is someone who speaks the truth in a clear and honest way…
It's about the courage to speak one’s mind even when it's difficult or unpopular…to prioritize truth over social niceties or personal gain...
But speaking the truth can be dangerous. A Parrhesiastes understands this risk and is willing to face the consequences, from social disapproval to vindictive employers or even violence...
Because ultimately Parrhesiastes act out of a sense of duty. They believe speaking the truth is necessary for the greater good and to protect the people and institution they love.
Can't believe I had never seen item 4 before. I worked with Doug and was aware of the circumstances surrounding his departure, but did not realize the MUSC might not have actually hired him.