Two leaders at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University are stepping down amid systemwide changes following a gynecologist’s sexual abuse of patients, according to a letter from Columbia’s office of the president.
Mary D’Alton, MD, is stepping down as chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and obstetrician and gynecologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She will maintain her clinical practice and continue to do research at Columbia, a spokesperson told Becker’s. Additionally, Lee Goldman, MD, former dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine and chief executive of the medical center, informed officials that he will be retiring.
The letter, cowritten by Claire Shipman, acting president of New York City-based Columbia University, and Katrina Armstrong, MD, CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences, details the changes the facilities have made following the conviction of Robert Hadden, MD, an OB-GYN who worked at a Columbia University medical practice and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
From 1987 to 2012, he sexually abused hundreds of women and girls under the guise of delivering medical care, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Dr. Hadden was arrested in September 2020 and convicted in July 2023 to 20 years in prison. He was convicted on four counts of enticement and inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
“While we cannot undo the harm of the past, we are firmly committed to ensuring that nothing like this can happen again,” the letter said. “We have been determined to implement best-in-class patient safety standards, help our community heal, and provide sustained support for survivors, whose courage in coming forward has already helped improve patient safety nationwide.”
The investigation
Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital commissioned an external investigation to determine how Dr. Hadden’s abuse persisted for so long, and to find the circumstances that allowed the exploitation to occur. The investigation was led by Joan Loughnane, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP. Ms. Loughnane’s team reviewed documents, interviewed current and former employees, reviewed complaints and survivor statements, and spoke with dozens of survivors. The complete report can be found here.
The investigation found the following factors permitted the extended abuse of patients to remain undetected: ineffective and uneven use of medical chaperoning; a hierarchical culture that suppressed or discouraged reporting; a lack of a clear complaint reporting procedure that enabled patients to report complaints of misconduct; and failed institutional responses to the reports that were received about Dr. Hadden’s conduct, including insufficient record-keeping and the failure to conduct a full investigation, contributed to the decision to permit Dr. Hadden to return to work after his arrest in 2012.
Patient safety changes
The hospitals have made a number of changes to improve patient safety, according to the letter.
1. The university has improved its patient safety commitments, which include clearly stated chaperone policies and requirements; expanding trauma-informed training for medical chaperones and all patient-facing staff; strengthening mandatory reporting and anti-retaliation language in policy and training; proactive communication to patients about reporting misconduct; and expanding board-level oversight of sexual misconduct policies.
2. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is utilizing a new professional tool to identify medical provider behavior that is not consistent “with a culture of safety” to serve as an early warning system to identify concerns. The Patient Advocacy Reporting System and the Co-Worker Observation Reporting System incorporate data from both patients and staff concerns and compares data to that from peer institutions.
3. The medical center also established a Center for Patient Safety Science to develop and research strategies for improving patient safety and health outcomes.
4. Columbia established a $100 million Survivors’ Settlement Fund in February 2024, which has been extended until June 15, 2026.
5. The university and NewYork-Presbyterian have jointly entered into voluntary settlements with more than 1,000 former patients of Dr. Hadden for over $1 billion.
“Settlements are always an imperfect method for recognizing the pain and suffering of victims, but the University’s efforts reflect our recognition that his patients did not receive the care, respect, and safety they rightly deserved, and that this breach of trust betrays the values we uphold as educators, scientists, and health professionals,” the letter said.
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