Erin Jordan, CR Gazette –
UPDATE: The University of Iowa has fired a tenured radiology professor based on a judicial panel’s finding Dr. Malik Juweid violated patient confidentiality and acted inappropriately toward his coworkers.
“Both the University and UIHC rely upon an atmosphere of collegiality among their faculty to function effectively,” the three-person panel wrote in a report released by the UI Thursday. “Dr. Juweid, by his actions, has shown that he did not work within the bounds of that required collegiality.”
President Sally Mason sent a letter to the panel’s chairperson Tuesday saying “I direct that the panel’s recommendations be implemented.”
Juweid can appeal the termination to the state Board of Regents.
Juweid, 51, has been on paid administrative leave since Jan. 12, 2011, shortly after UI’s threat assessment team talked with hospital employees about Juweid’s behavior. Juweid had recently filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission based on his claims of racism and discriminatory comments made in his UI department.
The judicial panel held a hearing June 15 on whether to discipline Juweid for alleged behaviors including threatening coworkers and disclosing confidential patient information.
UI officials testified that Juweid frequently wished death upon coworkers who crossed him and tried to convince other employees to speak out on his behalf.
Juweid, participating in the June hearing via Skype from his home country of Jordan, said wishing for someone else’s death is common in Arabic cultures and shouldn’t be taken as an actual threat.
