Martin Gizzi , MD.
Chairman and Director of Neurology
Neuroscience Institute
JFK Medical Center
 

Dear Dr Gizzi:

This is my response to the letter placing me on "probation"  on 4 March 1998. First and foremost, following are my views and explanations to the specific reasons for the probation.

1) Insubordination to Dr Hariharan :  On February 26, I was called initially in to Dr Hariharan’s office and later on had a meeting in your office and was asked to do one extra  month of clinical floor rotation or, alternatively, supervise and write notes on the patients followed by the rotating Internal Medicine resident in April 1998 as  "it was felt that there is a need to observe and evaluate my clinical duties further more".
Against which my explanations being 1) Have spent six months on the floors already and an additional month is unlikely to add any information in my clinical evaluation. 2) Assurance given to me in July 1997 and January 1998 by you to allow me to complete my electives for which only four months are left. 3) I have completed far more than necessary months of clinical rotations in my Neurology training for the requirement of the ‘Board’.
Furthermore, the very reason for transferring the clinical supervision to Senior Resident in the stroke unit from February onwards was to allow me to spend time doing EEG, Neuropathology, EMG and SLEEP studies rotations. At no point I was rude or uncooperative in spite of statements from Dr Hariharan like "If 25 people out of 30 don’t like you, how are you going to get a job?" I also expressed surprise and reservations about the monthly tests and requested to participate in forming these tests in the capacity of being the Chief resident instead of being subjected to them.

2) Failure to remain In House: In the month of February there were total five calls for Internal Medicine resident, Dr Jacobs. Three of these calls were assigned to me. I was in-house  on one occasion, until 8.30 pm, on second occasion up to 7 pm ( left  early after informing Dr Verro as there was no ongoing patient activity  at that time) and on the third occasion, took Dr Rosenberg’s permission to leave early due to a personal emergency. I the latter two occasions, I did keep in close touch with Dr Jacobs who, being a competent PGY2 resident did not have any difficult situations during these two calls and had a good learning experience. However I will make sure that like in the previous months, now onwards,  the rotating residents get complete coverage until 9.00 pm regardless of the situation.
 

3) Refusal to take exam : As you recall, I expressed my anxiety  on several occasions about the need and timing of the monthly exams and about not able to participate in forming these tests.  Upon being forced to give the test, after writing my name, I decided not to proceed with the exam.
I believe that I did not refuse the exam and to respect Dr Rosenberg’s wish, I sat through the test. I have on several occasions, since then, apologized to Dr Rosenberg in person and in front of the other attendings for my  possible unintentional rudeness and uncooperation. I also have decided to give these monthly tests regularly now onwards. I will also be giving the Residency In service Training Exam (RITE) on March 13.

4) Excessive use of Sick days :   January was a difficult month administratively due to only two junior residents available during the most of the month. February was another month with turmoil created by my inability to apply for the Boards exam due  and in addition to failure of getting PGY2 and PGY3 certificate from my previous program. These were two very difficult months and I still managed to ran routine activities smoothly as reflected by the monthly evaluations amongst other things. Credit also goes to Dr Salahuddin who has taken over responsibility of supervising the clinical activity since February 1998 to allow me to finish the electives. My 6 sick calls merely reflect the stressful two months taking a toll on my health.

             I humbly respect the above concerns raised by the letter and have  conveyed my explanations to attendings at more than one occasions. Without being given a warning, above issues, in my opinion does not justify a probation and punitive measures of ward supervision and clinical activities in the middle of ongoing electives  at my level of training with one months credit at stake.

             I strongly believe that I am being targeted and subjected to discrimination. Stunningly,  ward supervision duties  of rotating residents or an extra rotation on the floors was the very reason for meetings with you and Dr Hariharan on February 26. Even though I requested the Due Process Committee for grievances in this matter, the third member of my choice was not going to be able to make it to today’s meeting forcing me to withdraw the request ( as I could not have  possibly postponed it ).

             Three months away from completing the residency, instead of appreciation and respect for my hard work, I am being subjected to a discriminatory "probation" without any substantial grounds which will destroy any remaining chance of salvaging my carrier.

             I will continue to perform the  administrative work with the best of my abilities and finish the electives in addition to the measures mentioned in the explanation. It is not even my slightest idea to be uncooperative or disrespectful, however, to protect my constitutional rights and maintain my self  respect and  dignity , I will let Dr Salahuddin continue the supervision of the junior residents and will continue to
concentrate on electives.
 

Very Sicerely,
 

Chetan Thakar, MD.
Neurology Chief Resident.

CC: Neurology Faculty.