QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 9/6/24 LETTER OF "STRONGEST" SUPPORT FOR MELINA KIBBE AND CRAIG KENT SIGNED BY THE BASIC SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIRS AT THE UVA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
We have some questions about the following email the Chairs of the University of Virginia School of Medicine Research Department (aka Basic Science Department) sent to Jim Ryan, the UVA Board of Visitors, and Health System Board on 9/6/24 barely 24 hours after their colleagues sent the 9/5/24 Letter of No Confidence in Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe…
• Do these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs believe that a hallmark of reputable academic research involves gathering as many facts as possible before reaching a conclusion?
• Do these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs believe evidence is the basis for scientific understanding, and if so, did they speak to their colleagues and faculty in the UVA School of Medicine Clinical Department to learn more about the serious allegations before writing this letter?
• Did these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs use ethically sound research methods to quickly and forcefully dismiss the serious allegations raised by their School of Medicine colleagues and faculty about patient safety issues including patient deaths, financial malfeasance including criminal fraud, and retaliatory incidents that have resulted in some of their esteemed colleagues being demoted, having promotion & tenure denied, or being fired?
• What communications and meetings about the contents of this letter would a FOIA request reveal between these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs, Melina Kibbe, Craig Kent, Lisa Badeau, UVA Board of Visitors members and/or UVA Health System Board Members between the No Confidence Letter being emailed to the UVA Board of Visitors at 12:30pm EDT on 9/5/24 and this Chairs’ letter being emailed to the UVA Board of Visitors at 5:46pm EDT on 9/6/24?
• How would each of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs respond if a No Confidence Letter detailing serious issues and signed by 128 Research Department/Basic Science faculty were immediately rebuked by a letter from all of the Clinical Faculty Chairs expressing their “strongest support for Dean Kibbe and Dr. Kent”?
• Was it the intention of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs to suggest that all of their faculty supported this letter as well?
• Were all Research Department/Basic Science faculty informed of this letter before it was sent?
• Were all Research Department/Basic Science faculty sent this letter at the same time it went to UVA Leadership?
• Was it the intention of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs to intimidate their faculty and/or caution anyone from stepping out of line to support the clinical faculty who endorsed the 9/5/24 No Confidence Letter?
• How many of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs were appointed by Melina Kibbe?
• Did any of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs feel apprehensive about signing their names to this letter but felt pressured to do so by Melina Kibbe and/or their fellow Chairs?
• Will each of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs continue to stand “behind Dean Kibbe and Dr. Kent with full support for their leadership” as evidence that supports the allegations in the 9/5/24 No Confidence Letter is made public?
Subject: Letter of Support for Dean Kibbe and Dr. Kent
Date: Friday, September 6, 2024 at 5:46:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Anja Katrin Bielinsky
To: James Edward Ryan, Robert D. Hardie, Carlos M. Brown, Robert M. Blue, Daniel M. Brody, U. Bertram Ellis, Jr., Marvin William Gilliam Jr., Paul C. Harris, Stephen P. Long, Paul B. Manning, John L. Nau, David O. Okonkwo, Lewis Franklin Payne Jr., Amanda L. Pillion, Rachel W. Sheridan, David F. Webb, Douglas D. Wetmore, Porter N. Wilkinson, Michael J. Kennedy, Lisa Kopelnik, Ken Botsford, Bill Crutchfield, Steven Danziger, Victoria Harker, Thomas Scully
СС: Douglas A. Bayliss, Douglas W. DeSimone, Mariano Garcia-Blanco, Christopher A. Moskaluk, Shayn Peirce-Cottler, Matthew J. Gurka, Charles Farber, Harald Sontheimer, Ling Qi, Anja Katrin Bielinsky
Dear President Ryan, Members of the UVA Board of Visitors, and Health System Board,
In response to recent public allegations, we, the chairs of the basic science departments at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, write to express our strongest support for Dean Kibbe and Dr. Kent.
The criticisms outlined in the publicly released letter of no confidence do not align with the positive leadership we have witnessed. In our view Dean Kibbe and Dr. Kent have demonstrated exceptional transparency, integrity, and effectiveness in their roles.
Their accomplishments in the past 3-4 years reflect their commitment to advancing UVA's reputation in scientific research, education, and healthcare.
We stand behind Dean Kibbe and Dr. Kent with full support for their leadership and believe it is essential for the ongoing success of our institution.
Sincerely,
Douglas A. Bayliss, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of PharmacologyAnja K. Bielinsky, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular GeneticsDouglas W. DeSimone, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Cell BiologyCharles Farber, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Genome SciencesMariano Garcia-Blanco, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Cancer BiologyMatthew J. Gurka, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Public Health SciencesChristopher A. Moskaluk, M.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of PathologyShayn Peirce-Cottler, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Biomedical EngineeringLing Qi, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Molecular Physiology & Biological PhysicsHarald Sontheimer, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of NeuroscienceAnja Katrin Bielinsky, PhD (she/her)
Byrd Family Endowed Professor and Chair
Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
University of Virginia School of Medicine
РО Box 800733
1340 Jefferson Park Ave.
Pinn Hall, Room 6240
Charlottesville, VA 22908
P: 434-297-9459
• Did any of these Research Department/Basic Science Chairs consider the simple question, “How will our letter age if the serious allegations in the 9/5/24 No Confidence Letter are true?”
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