SEATTLE — Dr. Ben Danielson will join the department of pediatrics at UW Medicine after leaving his post as senior medical director of Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic over what he said were incidents of racism.
“We are moving Ben’s practice plan membership from CUMG to UWP, and he will continue to practice as a pediatrician on a part-time basis at a new practice site,” said Dr. Paul Ramsey, CEO of UW Medicine. “Ben is in the process of planning a very exciting new program that will advance health equity.”
When Danielson resigned from the clinic last month, he said he witnessed several incidents of racism, including a higher frequency of security being called on patients of color. Additionally, he said that several years ago he was described by a hospital administrator using a racial slur, according to a report from Crosscut.
That departure from the clinic gained the attention of a group of community leaders who sent a letter to the hospital system asking for an investigation into his claims, writing in part: “He was the only high-ranking African American male at Seattle Children’s. Consequently, his abrupt separation from the hospital is troubling.”
Seattle Children’s stated it would examine the issues that Danielson raised.
Crosscut reported on Saturday that Seattle Children’s Hospital CEO Dr. Jeff Sperring asked the president of Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Dr. Jim Hendricks, to step down following the racial complaints against Hendricks.
According to Seattle Children’s, a complaint was made against Hendricks and investigated in 2009 but no evidence of wrongdoing was found at the time.
“I’ve listened to our workforce, families, people in the community and other stakeholders,” Sperring said in a statement to KIRO 7. “After many conversations and thinking about what is in the best interest of the institution, I acted. We have patients who need hope, care and cures and cannot afford any distractions that might compromise the services we provide.”
Seattle Children’s announced the creation of a new board assessment committee comprised of a diverse group of trustees and the community who will hire an independent expert to examine racism and bias across its organization.
Now that Danielson has returned, UW President Ana Mari Cause told the Puget Sound Business Journal, “We are thrilled that we could play a role in keeping Dr. Danielson in our community where he has done such great work for decades.”
Cox Media Group
