Faculty describe mood of fear in cardiology department

On the walls of the Yale School of Medicine hang the portraits of previous deans and acclaimed scholars. They have one thing in common all are male. Professor of immunobiology at the School of Medicine and chair of the Womens Faculty Forum Paula Kavathas said she thinks the portraits are telling: They reflect a school where men wield power.

The allegations that have emerged about the mishandling of a sexual misconduct case involving Michael Simons, the former chief of the schools cardiology department, and researcher Annarita Di Lorenzo have spurred discussions about the working environment for women at the school. But members of the community disagree about whether the School of Medicine is a hostile work environment for women.

Of 18 medical school faculty members interviewed, 11 expressed concerns about the environment, while seven said they felt the school was a completely safe place for women. Of nine faculty members in the cardiology department interviewed, five all physicians said their department was a hostile work environment in general, but especially for women. Researchers, however, defended the work environment under Simons.

Five female physicians working in cardiovascular medicine some of whom said they experienced various forms of harassment at the hands of Simons described the environment within the cardiology department under the former chairs leadership as one in which bullying was rampant. All five asked to remain anonymous out of concern for their jobs.

The mood of the entire [cardiology] section was fear, which kept many people silent, one physician said.

Simons made labs inaccessible to certain people, dealt with promotions unfairly by favoring some and disfavoring others and gave critical assignments to those he favored regardless of merit, the five female physicians claimed. Though the bullying was not directed solely at women, those interviewed said that women felt the brunt of it.

While Simons admitted to erring in judgment, he denied being abusive in the workplace.

Several years ago I briefly pursued a colleague who was in a junior but not subordinate position. For this error in judgment I have apologized, and I genuinely regret my action. However, in no way did I use abuse my position at Yale to punish, or retaliate against any faculty member a fact the Yales University-Wide Committee confirmed, Simons wrote in an email to the News. My professional decisions have always been based only on talent, merit and that which is in the best interest of Yale, its staff and students.

Simons department is not the only one at the medical school to receive criticism in recent years for being a hostile work environment for women.

One cardiologist interviewed cited a 2006 case, in which Joseph Schlessinger, chair of pharmacology, was charged with sexual harassment. Schlessinger remains in his post.

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Faculty describe mood of fear in cardiology department