Stefan Pulst, MD, professor and chairman of the neurology department at Salt Lake City-based University of Utah School of Medicine, was reinstated to his position four months after he was ousted "in a similar fashion" to Huntsman Cancer Institute Director and CEO Mary Beckerle's, PhD, April firing, according to The Salt Lake City Tribune.
Dr. Pulst, who served as chairman of the department for 10 years prior to his termination, said he was "among numerous university department heads" fired in April by Vivian Lee, MD, PhD, the former senior vice president for health sciences, medical school dean and CEO of University of Utah Health Care.
Dr. Lee fired Dr. Beckerle over email without any explanation April 17. University trustees voted to reinstate her one week later. Dr. Lee resigned from her position in May following the conflict. At the same time, University of Utah President David Pershing, PhD, said he would step down as president once the university selected his predecessor, a process which has yet to be completed, according to the report.
A. Lorris Betz, MD, PhD, who took over as dean of the medical school after Dr. Lee's resignation, reinstated Dr. Pulst to his position as chief of the neurology department. A spokesperson for the university confirmed his reinstatement to The Salt Lake Tribune.
It is unclear if Dr. Betz will reinstate any of the other department heads terminated under Dr. Lee. It is also unclear why he chose to reinstate Dr. Pulst, who's firing would not have gone into effect until Oct. 1.