Former cardiac specialist sues OHSU for sex discrimination
A cardiologist is suing Oregon Health and Science University for “forcing” her out of a job last year after she was reportedly subjected to consistent racial and sexual discrimination, the Oregonian has reported.
Rupa Bala, who was employed by OHSU as a cardiac specialist starting in 2015, is seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits for being edged out of the practice, as well as for mental and emotional distress, according to the Oregonian. She said her bosses—the chiefs of electrophysiology and cardiology at the hospital—treated her differently than her male colleagues.
Bala said she started receiving complaints that her communication style was “too strong and direct” nearly immediately after starting at OHSU. She was investigated by human resources in late 2015 after a nurse claimed she bullied and harassed staff, but Bala said she was singled out as a woman and person of color. She said her boss also failed to invite her to recruitment dinners her male colleagues were invited to.
Bala left her position at OHSU last June after a lead electrophysiology technician reportedly swore at her during an ablation procedure. She said she quit to avoid being fired.
Read the Oregonian’s full report below:
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.