Two linked to UNLV program on leave
May face prosecution over HIV care services
The maternal HIV program at UNLV that was suspended by the university six weeks ago without notice is now without a director.
The university on Monday placed Dr. Echezona Ezeanolue, the program’s director, and Dina Patel, a pediatric nurse practitioner, on administrative leave. They were escorted off the campus, according to their attorney, Jacob Hafter.
Hafter said Shawn Gerstenberger, dean of the School of Community Health Sciences, asked the university to prosecute Ezeanolue and Patel for various “unsubstantiated claims of wrongdoing.”
“The documents are not sup
HIV The documents are not supported by a shred of evidence, nor do they include a list of witnesses who may testify as to the allegations contained therein.
portedbyashredofevidence,nor do they include a list of witnesses who may testify as to the allegations contained therein,” Hafter said.
Monday’s action by university officialscoincidedwiththenewsthat Dr. Barbara Atkinson, founding dean of UNLV’S School of Medicine, will return to her post Wednesday.
She’s been out of the position for four months following a major health scare, and Gerstenberger has been the school’s acting dean since August. That’s in addition to his role with the health science school, which oversees the maternal HIV program.
The grant-funded program, which provides outpatient HIV primary care services to low-income, vulnerable and medically underserved women, infants, children and youth, was suspended by the university six weeksagowithnonoticetoezeanolue, Patel or their 62 patients.
The university has provided little answerastowhy.
President Len Jessup said previously that there were irregularities with the way the grant is being administered. Gerstenberger said an administrative audit is underway.
Expected return
A medical school spokesman said Atkinson’sreturnisnottiedtothe suspension of the maternal HIV program, and that she had been expectedtoreturninnovember.
“The immediate success of the Schoolofmedicineisareflection of Barbara’s tireless commitment to building an exceptional team and developing a program our community can be proud of, and we’re pleased to welcome her back,” Jessup said in a statement.
A second university spokesman said Gerstenberger will remain as dean of the health science school and will continue to assist medical school leadership as needed.
However, Patel and Ezeanolue were placed on administrative leave a few days after a lawsuit to force the program’s reinstatement was filed on behalf of a 4-year-old girl.
Hafter said Ezeanolue and Patel have 10 days to prepare themselves to defend the charges.
Gerstenberger and Jessup did not respond to requests for comment.
Contact Natalie Bruzda at nbruzda@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3897. Follow @ Nataliebruzda on Twitter.