An external review says a medical professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland was subjected to years of harassment and bullying. According to a report released today, the review committee concluded that Cathy Popadiuk, a gynecological oncologist, “experienced a pattern of harassment that extended over a period of years.” The report says that Dr. Popadiuk “was placed in an intimidating, hostile environment, has been discouraged by her superiors in carrying out acceptable treatment options she deemed best for her patients,” and “has had her clinical work assessed in a manner that denied her natural justice.”
Her case was taken up by the Canadian Association of University Teachers, which commissioned the independent review. That investigation was carried out by Albert Katz, a professor and chair of the department of psychology at the University of Western Ontario; Lori J. West, a professor of pediatrics, surgery and immunology at the University of Alberta; and Philippe DeWals, director of the department of social and preventative medicine at the University of Laval. The reviewers noted that Dr. Popadiuk’s experience apparently was not unique, other members of the medical faculty at Newfoundland had also provided evidence of being treated without respect.
Dr. Popadiuk complained five years ago that her reputation was unfairly damaged after a visiting colleague told her superiors that her research was poor and her treatment of patients was inappropriate. The report says the dispute began over a different approach to cancer treatment. Dr. Popadiuk preferred to use chemotherapy before surgery, but her colleagues, according to the report, did not consider that to be “the preferred mode of treatment.”
She was removed as associate dean of students and her office was relocated away from the clinic where she saw patients. An internal review at Memorial University has determined that her work is sound, according to a report by CBC News.
The external reviewers suggest both Memorial University and the Eastern Health authority apologize to Dr. Popadiuk. The recommendations also include setting up a dispute resolution process and develop a harassment policy. —Karen Birchard