UVA HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD PUBLIC MEMBER INTERFERENCE IN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
Letter from doctors to University of Virginia Board of Visitors on 1/16/25 imploring them to get control of leadership before further damage is done.
On September 9, 2024, the electronics retailer and UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield penned an opinion piece for Virginia Business attacking our doctors and suggesting they were violating the Hippocratic Oath by courageously bringing forth serious issues at UVA Health including patient safety problems and a culture of fear and retaliation.
UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield doubled down on his attack against our doctors in his opinion letter in The Daily Progress on September 10, 2024.
Many of our doctors viewed UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield’s actions against them as an extension of the culture of retaliation they were attempting to end.
Four months later, UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield has resurfaced, sending unsolicited emails on January 15, 2025 to UVA Health employees and UVA School of Medicine faculty in a blatant attempt to influence the Board of Visitors’ independent investigation.
We share our doctors’ concerns and questions submitted yesterday to the Board of Visitors:
January 16, 2025
To: The Rector and Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia
Robert D. Hardie
Carlos M. Brown
Robert M. Blue
Daniel M. Brody
U. Bertram Ellis Jr.
Marvin W. Gilliam Jr.
The Hon. Paul C. Harris
Stephen P. Long, MD
Paul B. Manning
John L. Nau III
David O. Okonkwo, MD
The Hon. L.F. Payne
Amanda L. Pillion
Rachel W. Sheridan
David F. Webb
Douglas D. Wetmore
Porter N. Wilkinson
Michael J. Kennedy
Lisa R. Kopelnik
Cc: University of Virginia Peer-Elected Faculty Leaders
Stephen H. Culp, MD
James H. Lambert
Michael Ragosta III, MD
Jeri K. Seidman
Megan C. Tracci, MD, JD
Re: UVA Health System Board Public Member Interference in Independent Investigation
On September 12, 2024, we found ourselves in the unfortunate position of writing to you with deep concerns about the actions of UVA leadership following delivery of the September 5, 2024 LETTER OF NO CONFIDENCE IN CRAIG KENT AND MELINA KIBBE. Regrettably, we find ourselves in that position again.
On January 15, 2025, UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield sent unsolicited emails regarding the Williams & Connolly independent investigation to UVA Health employees and UVA School of Medicine faculty ranging from administrative staff to department chairs. His email informs the recipients that their identity was provided by an unnamed person to Williams & Connolly as a “potential supporter” of Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe. UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield states he believes there is a "misunderstanding about the interview protocol" of the investigation, tells the recipients it will be necessary to contact Williams & Connolly if they wish to arrange an interview, and provides the email addresses of Katherine Turner and Emmet Flood. UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield further informs the recipients that the members of the UVA Board of Visitors "have been asked not to reach out directly to distractors [sic] or supporters of Craig and Melina," but as a "public member of the Health System Board, that restriction does not apply" to him.
There are other concerning elements in his email, which we will not address in this letter for the sake of brevity. We have included a copy below of UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield’s email. We are deeply disturbed by his actions.
UVA Health employees and UVA School of Medicine faculty have willingly participated in your investigation in good faith to bring important information forward. UVA Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield's blatant attempt to interfere in the Board of Visitors' independent investigation raises serious questions about the integrity of the process. An unsolicited email from an individual in the position of his power and influence informing the recipient they have been identified by an unnamed person is threatening and intimidating. We have heard from some who received his email that they were unnerved and felt deeply uncomfortable by it.
Considering all of this, we ask the Board of Visitors the following questions:
• Who advised Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield that he was not restricted from contacting UVA Health employees and UVA School of Medicine faculty regarding the independent investigation?
• Who informed Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield of restrictions put in place on the Board of Visitors regarding the independent investigation?
• Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield indicates he is aware of Williams & Connolly interviews with people who were critical of Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe. Is a member or members of the Board of Visitors providing him with details about the interviews conducted in the independent investigation?
• Did a member or members of the Board of Visitors encourage Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield to initiate contact with UVA Health employees and UVA School of Medicine faculty to encourage them to provide Williams & Connolly positive opinions of Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe? If so, why?
• Who is the unnamed person that identified specific UVA Health employees and UVA School of Medicine faculty as potential supporters and provided their names to Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield?
• Who provided Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield with the contact information for these employees and faculty?
• Was Williams & Connolly aware of Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield's actions prior to his sending of unsolicited emails?
• As Chair of the Health System Board, was Board of Visitors member Paul Manning aware of Health System Board public member Bill Crutchfield's actions prior to his sending of unsolicited emails? If so, did Paul Manning inform the other Health System Board members of Bill Crutchfield’s actions? If so, did Paul Manning inform the UVA Board of Visitors of Bill Crutchfield’s actions?
We are requesting that Bill Crutchfield be relieved immediately of his responsibilities as a public member of the UVA Health System Board, pending an investigation into this matter. Bill Crutchfield's actions are an abuse of power, a threat to the integrity of the independent investigation, and we believe they make him unfit to serve.
We are once again putting the University of Virginia Board of Visitors on notice and imploring you to get control of our leadership before further damage is done.
EMAIL FROM UVA HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD PUBLIC MEMBER
From: billc@crutchfield.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 [Time stamp redacted]
To: [Email redacted]
Subject: Support for Craig Kent and Melina Kibbe [External_Email]EXTERNAL EMAIL: This message was sent from outside of UVA Health. Please use caution when replying, clicking links or opening attachments.
[Name redacted],
There appears to be a misunderstanding about the interview protocol regarding the Williams & Connolly attorneys who are investigating the claims made by 128 of our concerned physicians. Your name was given to these attorneys as a potential supporter. This person was under the assumption that these attorneys would reach out to you for an interview. However, as I understand it, their protocol is only to respond to requests for interviews. They are not proactively seeking them out. This puts Craig and Melina at a disadvantage since their critics have been highly effective in mobilizing interviews from people who are critical. Therefore, if you would like to express your opinions pertaining to the situation at UVA Health, it will be necessary to email Katherine Turner and/or Emmet Flood at the addresses below, and request an interview. I did this and promptly received an interview appointment. Mine was with Katherine Turner who I found to be highly professional and open minded in her understanding of the situation.
Our BOV members have been asked not to reach out directly to either the distractors or supporters of Craig and Melina. However, as a public member of the Health System Board, that restriction does not apply to me. For that reason, I am writing you and others. In full disclosure, I am a supporter who feels that UVA Health is in the best shape that it has been in the over thirty years on which I have served on various health system boards. That includes my eight years on the BOV.
Naturally, you are free to circulate this email if you feel that it will be helpful.
Best wishes,
Bill Crutchfield
What is going on at UVA Health?
We are Concerned Citizens of Charlottesville and Patients of UVA Health who are troubled by what we have heard from many UVA Health professionals for the past year and a half.
These professionals are not only our doctors and nurses but also our friends, family and neighbors. We believe our community should value and protect its health care workers who have dedicated their lives to helping UVA patients.
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.