Outspoken doctor dismissed from Vanderbilt Medical Center

Eugene Gu posted this picture of himself taking a knee in support of NFL players.

ASAM NEWS

A CONTROVERSIAL medical resident, whose social media posts about the Black Lives Matter movement and other social issues caught the attention of President Trump, has lost his job at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, reports the Tennessean.

Eugene Gu posted a picture of himself taking a knee in support of protest by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who refused to stand for the national anthem.

He also alleged workplace harassment at Vanderbilt which he connected to his political views.

RELATED: Asian American doctor takes a knee

Gu worked at Vanderbilt for three years, but his residency was not renewed for a fourth year and he will not be able to complete the five year program.

The Duke Chronicle obtained a letter to Gu from the University explaining its decision.

VUMC General Counsel Michael Regie cited a “lack of sufficient improvement in performance and conduct in key areas” after Gu was placed on probation late last year. The letter cited “patient care, communication, and medical knowledge” as “significant areas of concern.”

“The take-home message here is that there is an unwritten rule for surgical residents and that is rule is, always make your program look good and always make your hospital look good, and often that means stay silent,” Gu said to the Tennessean. “But as an Asian American physician, unlike a White doctor, I don’t always have the same luxury to stay silent.”

Gu was part of a successful lawsuit against the President filed by American citizens who were blocked by Trump on social media after their persistent criticism of him.

Vanderbilt denied their decision had anything to do with Gu’s politics, criticism of the president or his stance on social issues.

“Regarding other allegations that Dr. Gu is making about the Medical Center, I would ask that you please consider these as allegations and nothing more,” John Howser, a spokesman for the hospital, said in the email to the Tennessean. “To date, we have not engaged in a point by point rebuttal of Dr. Gu’s many claims over the past two-plus years. At this time we will continue to maintain this stance.”

In an interview with AsAmNews back in December, Gu defended his actions.

"I feel like I’m in North Korea where speaking out to promote justice is seen as an evil. I’m being punished for that,” said Gu. “Instead of helping me, they are trying to destroy my career. I graduated with top of my class as Stanford and Duke Medical School. I’ve been outspoken on positive issues like fighting racism. Vanderbilt is trying to destroy my career. That is wrong."
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