Mazzoni Center’s medical director, Dr. Robert Winn, is currently on paid leave, Mazzoni Director of Development and Marketing Perry Monastero told PGN this week.
Monastero declined to comment on the reasoning behind Winn’s leave, saying that, “legally, Mazzoni Center cannot discuss personnel issues.” Monastero did note that “an external process is taking place which is both objective and thorough.” Monastero said Dr. Shanin Gross, one of Mazzoni’s assistant medical directors, will take over as acting medical director.
Monastero said Gross will work with an internal team, including Practice Manager Valarie Canavin, Clinical Operations Manager Dane Menkin CNRP and Assistant Medical Director Dr. Hilary Rosenstein.
Mazzoni’s board of directors scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday evening.
CEO Nurit Shein did not respond to a request for comment. Director of Communications Elisabeth Flynn is on vacation and did not respond to requests for comment by presstime.
While the reasoning behind his departure has not been publicly announced, several local reports, based on anonymous sources, indicated Winn is being investigated for alleged sexual misconduct with patients.
Winn has been the target of criticism from the Black & Brown Workers Collective in recent months. In a statement, the BBWC said Winn should resign from his position at Mazzoni for a “history of power abuse.” It went on to allege Winn was complicit in “hiring or paying persons without properly adhering to agency confidentiality and possibly violating HIPAA; multiple reported incidents of sexual violence; multiple reports of quid pro quo for narcotic or other habit-forming drugs; failing to support or listen to other clinical staff, which is his job; chiding or rejecting critical feedback that directly impacts community well-being and could avoid future traumas.”
The BBWC has also repeatedly called for Shein’s resignation.
Additionally, the BBWC proposed that a fund be developed out of Mazzoni’s “non-restricted monies to support therapy and other infrastructure to help former and current staff that have had an increase in need for therapeutic care due to workplace violence.”
According to the BBWC Facebook page, the group protested in front of Mazzoni’s Locust Street headquarters Tuesday where they “encourage[d] Mazzoni [s]taff to walk out in solidarity with the victims of Dr. Winn.”