Charges of Racism at Medical Center

In August of 1995 the chairman of the anesthesia department of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital/Drew Medical Center retired and went to East Tennessee University as associate dean. The dean of Drew University, Dr. Roy Wilson, held a meeting with 100% of the faculty of the anesthesia department. Our department is ethnically diverse, with the majority being African American. Dr. Roger Von Phul, who is the senior member of our department and an African American, nominated me to be interim chairman. There was a vote taken and 100% of the department voted for me.

I am Caucasian and I believe the ultimate Latino, since my grandfather was born in Madrid and my father was born in Naples, Italy, and my mother in Sicily. I am over 70 years of age; this certainly illustrates very strongly a selection process at the King/Drew Medical Center and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science which does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnic origin or age.

VINCENT L. deCIUTIIS MD

King/Drew Medical Center