Norman Wang, MD, a cardiologist and faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, filed suit against the school, its medical center and affiliated physician group for alleged discrimination and retaliation, the Tribune Review reported April 5.
Dr. Wang claims school officials dismissed him from his role as the director of its clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship program in response to his criticism of affirmative action that was published in March 2020 by the Journal of the American Heart Association, according to the publication. His article was later retracted by the AHA.
The article said "the cardiology field was violating the laws against discrimination in the way it used race as a factor in hiring, recruitment, promotion, and admissions," according to the lawsuit.
Dr. Wang claims that four months after publication, some "employees and executives at Pitt, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh Physicians learned of the assertations" and saw them as "potentially problematic or embarrassing."
He alleges the school barred him from having contact with anyone affiliated with the university or its medical center and staff "began a public attack campaign" against his article on social media.
This is Dr. Wang's second attempt at litigation against the school, medical center and physician group, according to the publication. The initial suit is being investigated, and some allegations have been dismissed.
The Review said Jared Stonesifer, a university spokesman, declined comment on the latest suit, and officials at UPMC offered no immediate response.