Thread by @ayshakhoury

A few months ago, well before I shared my story publicly, a friend tried to help me understand that I can use any vehicle to teach. I didn’t need a classroom. He advised that I share with Black students what it means to be #BlackinMedicine 1/15

Growing up in Atlanta gives you a different sense of the world. You’re surrounded by Black professionals. Undoubtedly there’s racism but you learn to work hard and that your work will speak for you. Indeed Until now, my work, clinical and teaching, has spoken for itself. 2/15

Patients loved seeing me because they would “always learn something”, students would schedule extra free time with me because they loved my teaching style and feedback, my coworkers would come to me for advice for their loved ones because they trusted my judgment. 3/15

As 1/31 (my renewal date) approaches I’m still in disbelief. KPSOM recruited me from Atlanta. I was told I was the first person offered my position before interviews were even completed because the recruitment committee unanimously wanted me. People will attest to this. 4/15

In spite of being up for promotion, I was suspended without warning or inquiry. 5/15

In spite of @StudentsofKP being supportive and wanting me to return, I was told my appointment wouldn’t be renewed. 6/15

@KPMedSchool refuses to release my personnel file to my lawyers, yet on 1/27 @MichaelKanterMD sent a letter so scathing and damaging that I read it and just cried. None of my hard work matters here.

Even though @KPMedSchool uses the curriculum I wrote (approved by @abbas_a_hyderi Jose Barral @DrMarkSchuster @MichaelKanterMD) and Kanter supported a promotion in June,  in January, he writes a letter that will kill my career. 8/15

When I read the letter, I try to understand how I got here. The only reference to the suspension is the “fact finding process”. Without the suspension, there would be no “fact finding process” and without that “process” I would have a position and promotion not a termination 9/15

After my suspension I recommended a restorative justice process, used around the world by governments and communities. 

Instead of a good faith commitment to truth and reconciliation, @DrMarkSchuster @MichaelKanterMD chose character / career assassination and gaslighting. 10/15

I shared the letter with two of my most supportive friends. They said if I posted this letter ppl wouldn’t believe me anymore. It’s just too damning, there’s just too much to fight. I was warned it’s only going to get worse. This feels like battling a hydra. 11/15

Adding to my fear, their lawyer who has the full weight of THE. KAISER. FOUNDATION. HEALTH. PLAN sent the letter below. 🥺 This is powerfully intimidating and all because on the 57th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream Speech” I showed up to my class fully as a Black woman. 12/15

I am committed to truth and transparency especially when it comes to issues of race and gender! My hope in sharing this is that my battle will become someone else’s survival guide. I know who I am. I know my work. I REJECT the way the school has characterized me. 13/15

The medicine “pipeline” programs seem to lead to a shredder! @pringlmillermd shared ACGME data. We know from @uche_blackstock that Black doctors are fleeing Academic Medicine. If I survive this whipping #vestigesofslavery, I will use this platform to make things better 14/15

To be #BlackinMedicine is to constantly navigate between Syclla and Charybdis (@rcg1812) your ENTIRE career. We don’t deserve this. The next generation of minoritized and racialized docs don’t deserve this. #RacisminMedicine must be dismantled. END