Those of us who knew all along that Mike Garrison wasn’t the second coming of Derek Bok have had one thing going for us: Garrison’s henchmen, while ridiculously well compensated, have yet to make a single good (much less savvy) public relations move. It has been a Tour de Force in the art of FAIL. This is what I mean when I say that these people aren’t even good at political corruption.
If Mike Garrison were to have asked me (yeah right) — or a whole hell of a lot of other people — for advice back in December or even April, we would have all said the same, obvious thing: Craig Walker has got to go.
But with the exception of Heather Bresch, Craig Walker is the one person who has come out of this utterly unscathed. He didn’t even get shuffled around.
Regardless of what his role in the whole thing really was, he was the most obvious person to take the fall. He was Garrison’s proxy in the meeting, and could have served as his proxy in the aftermath. I strongly believe that if they would have rolled out Craig Walker as the sacrificial lamb back in the Spring, Garrison would survived this.
If Macia was given the ax too, Garrison’s survival would have been a certainty. He would have been on his way to the United States Senate, instead of a bullshit position at Mylan.
Time will tell if Walker is really leaving. God knows that he won’t have to worry about a cut in pay. That’s not how WVU operates.
June 25, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Let us hope and pray that Dr. Vest conditioned his appointment to the board based on the other two replacements being acceptable to him.
June 25, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Amen! (But unlikely such a condition would be granted.)
June 25, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I’m new around here. Can someone give me a run-down of Walker? CV, scandals, indictments, whatever.
June 25, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Indictments - don’t we wish!!
June 25, 2008 at 6:26 pm
HK, no truer words were ever spoken. “This is what I mean when I say that these people aren’t even good at political corruption.”
You can bet the shit has been hitting the fan constantly since Mike Garrison took office with his inept crew sitting in on every meeting.
The Governor must be really hot under his collar. Damn, can’t even get the simple stuff like dealing with my brat, those spoiled faculty members, the f-wits (nah- that’s a word chicks use) at HSC, and the Marion County coach gone bad.
I agree that had Garrison had the balls to give Walker and Sears the ax and Macia his walking papers to a good job, he would still be President. Lang would be undercutting him, but that’s all he is good for anyway.
June 25, 2008 at 6:28 pm
its time to pone some nubes at the HSC…..
June 25, 2008 at 6:35 pm
una nubes de criticas?
What the hell is happening there? Are the boys sitting in a room with Bill Case working on a youtube video about the greatness of WVU health?
June 25, 2008 at 7:32 pm
The Parallels are too much!
Why is Foglesong being given time in the media? Is someone floating a trial balloon to see if he can be squeezed onto the WVU BOG or maybe even be considered for interim president–or a future candidate for president? Not only did Mississippi State ask him to leave–face-saving comments to the contrary (just like garrison), they slammed the door shut behind him. If you have colleagues at Mississippi State ask them!
http://www.universitybusiness.com/newssummary.aspx?news=yes&postid=15485
http://katsmeow.vox.com/library/post/a-study-in-petulance-dr-robert-foglesong-president-mississippi-state-university.html
Ever Watchful,
!We Ourselves!
June 25, 2008 at 8:08 pm
He has kept his toe in the WV water while he has been away.
June 25, 2008 at 8:44 pm
!We Ourselves!
That press release is a real Twilight Zone isn’t it? Started over daffodils - I bet he thought no one would notice (just like no one here thought anyone would ever find out about Heather’s “favor.”)
June 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Where did this Foglesong bs come from. I’ve never heard of him. But reading the above, a military general is the last person to run a university. At the very least professors and students don’t take orders very well.
June 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Around 2001 Mississippi State was in a similar position to WVU. They had no President, no Provost, and were searching for several Deans (maybe as many as half a dozen), all at one time (i had been nominated in desperation for a Deanship). I met a MSU faculty member at a function in DC and in speaking with him asked: Why would someone want to be Provost without knowing who would be president? Or Dean without knowing who would be Provost? It definitely matters for the type of environment the prospective Dean, or Provost would have to either thrive or not. That is why it is so very important to continue to build the BoG to attract a quality President who in turn will attract quality people for HSC VP and Provost etc etc. None of this waiting and putting people in place as chosen by a proven loser. I hope with Vest’s appointment, two more quality people will be appointed, so that a newly aware BOG will quickly go after a President who can feel he/she is in an environment that will finally start to build toward achieving the potential WVU has always shown but frittered away.
June 25, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Man, this post totally wasn’t what I thought it would be about.
June 25, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Everyone with half a brain realizes Craig Walker is a walking disaster, so why spend more time beating a dead horse? Well, except the horse isn’t dead yet. Sometime before Sept. 1 Garrison could announce Pastilong’s retirement and appoint Walker as Athletic Director. On second thought, keep beating!
June 25, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Let’s see. Walker and Garrison pushed aside Pastilong to lead Rick astray. Walker negotiated the P&V contract and hiring. Hmmm, seems Pastilong was shoved aside for Farmer and Garrison to sign Huggins to a life time deal (at least I think only Mikey took credit for that cause he needed it at the time. sorry Walker). So Undercover, maybe your onto something. Trouble is, with a track record like that who knows what the result will be. Maybe the Atheletic Department will get the Pop Tax!
June 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Comment posted regarding the article in the Charleston Gazette about Craig Walker’s announcement to step down:
One would have to question the opinion of Amy Johns if she believes that Bill Case’s re-joining the HSC communications team will be helpful. He carries far too much baggage to a place that is ready to implode. Where does the buck stop re: the full-page ad in the Dominion Post touting the greatness of the “WVU healthy care system?” That person should be fired for poor judgment.
Folks at the HSC are getting his office ready. The “good ol’ boys” are making our predictions come true. He’ll get his job back - AGAIN. Third time’s a charm?
June 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm
HIPPIE KILLER,
Did Mike Garrison and Joe Manchin for Kay Goodwin (via WV Public Broadcasting) to out you?
I bet they did!
June 25, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Undercover - given all the mischief that seems to go on at WVU and the lack of control the President had over his staff, and others going off, recreating history and pulling grades out of thin air to manufacture a degree, pehaps a military appraoch would go a long way to get things in order. Just a thought.
June 25, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Any more word on the lawsuit against Heather?
How is it that it has been alleged that a fraud was committed in altering the records and awarding the degree yet the Judiciary Committee is not interested in investigating it? Unbelievable.
June 25, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Lets us not be mislead by the Manchin Machine appointing 1 or 2 good and decent folks to positions of importance.
It is all part of Manchin’s plan to spin a web of deception and political shit.
Evan a moron like Manchin can readily find a bright, honest person to appoint.
THIS DOES NOT CHANGE HIS GAME PLAN!!!
We must not be mislead by the few good happenings!
We must continue to demand that properly prepared and experienced professionals be placed in leadership positions.
Remember a recently cited truism: Even a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day!
Even a stupid dishonest prick like Manchin can make a few good decisions.
BE NOT MISLEAD !!!
Demand that the cancer called Manchin leave the state. Vote for anyone that runs against him and his Family of blood sucking leeches.
Continue to demand honest and open governance.
If we persist, we will succeed!
June 25, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I’ve been looking around the WV Legislature web site, trying to find some reference to the vote that was taken yesterday regarding an investigation of WVU. I can’t find a thing — as if it never happened. Have they just found it inconvenient to acknowledge the vote, or am I overlooking something?
June 25, 2008 at 10:11 pm
The reason Walker, Macia, Case, and Garrison are all getting the softest of landings and receiving mucho dinero on the way out the door is because their silence is golden to Manchin and the Goodwins.
June 25, 2008 at 11:11 pm
The “Garrison gang” are all a bunch of sorry bastards. HK: How about a post on Macia?
June 26, 2008 at 12:09 am
Let’s make sure Pastilong stays out of retirement long enough for Mike G. to be safely somewhere else. Assuming Walker stays in frozen carbonite, the next AD will be Fred Schaus’s son. He should be done with his apprenticeship at Ohio U. in time for the 2010 hire. Jim Schaus runs things like a business. Total bad-ass.
June 26, 2008 at 12:15 am
Turn over the rock of slime to find big pharma, giving the keys to the store away again to the Ruling Class, right out of the pockets of we the people. The Garrison Gang ain’t nothin’ compared to the Big Manch and his real mistress Big Pharma. Sorry HK, but picking on the yuppies while the big fish get away is just what their spin doctors hope for. They are counting on it.
Manchin has a spin administration that could sell lolly pops to diabetics. These clowns are so happy to see us whine about Garrison and his underlings, because they make a fortune keeping us hooked on their drugs and could care less about what we think, especialy when we drivel about trivial “who is who” in the minor bit parts of the scandal.
Why Manchin Gate happened is the expectation of Big Pharma to get her way with any government in America. Oh no, you say. Then why is that other smoke stuff illegal? That would be because it works better medicinally than most of the crapola Mylan sells. The only difference is people can grow the good stuff which doesn’t make Mylan or the insurance companies any money (remember Manchin’s other pals at Brickstreet). And it is not as addictive as Mylan’s products, alcohol or even big tobacco.
Hmm. Works better, is less addictive and could be essentially free. Land of the free all right. We need those overcrowded jails so Manchin has someone to work on our highways, since he wont actually pay the working people. Manchin Pays his political pals pleanty, you can sleep well knowing that.
On the other subject of interest, Health sciences is a scandal all right, because of the ruthless attack on our public health through slight of hand politicing and distractions such as “Gay marriage”. The only reason they don’t want gays married is then they (Big Pharma and Voodoo insurance) would have to cover the significant others with health care. It is all about money, they want it, we earn it, they take it away. They don’t want anyone to have health care, they want you to buy health insurance, which limits our access to health care (like Brickstreet does very effectively), so they can charge us even more. We the people are Treated like rats in a cage. Watch out, because when they figure out our democracy might actually change things for the better, they will take that away too.
The sick part is they use our public institutions, such as WVU, to indoctronate we the people to carry the water for their bigotted and cash cow mentality. There is so much of Mylan’s pollution in our water and our politics, I feel sick.
You probably do too.
Set the yuppies and we the people free and vote the bastards out.
June 26, 2008 at 12:24 am
Farmer out, Vest in on WVU Board of Governors
http://wvgazette.com/latest/200806250424
June 26, 2008 at 7:24 am
PPG on vest
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08178/892779-85.stm
June 26, 2008 at 8:47 am
HSC folks, what do they say that Bill Case will do in his new office? Is Bailes around? What does Butcher do all day? Where is Jim Brick? Who’s frequenting Glasshouse Grille now that R and V are gone?
Where is azlo?
June 26, 2008 at 9:19 am
Somebody help me understand…
I have no doubt that Dr. Vest is a stellar scholar. And, from a quick glance at the prologue to his 2007 book tracing the research university from WWII to the internet age, I surmise that he is also an optimist with fond memories of his WVU years. That’s great.
But, how involved will he really be? Will he drop everything and fly to Mtown every time the BOG meet? Will he take the time to meet with your run-of-the-mill WVU faculty and find out that some of the key ingredients mentioned in his book underlying the success of the US research university system, namely academic freedom, does not exist for all faculty at WVU? Especially those teaching at the HSC? Oh folks talk a good game, but when it gets down to it, every chair and administrator that I’ve dealt with has responded to any academic freedom with the same arrogant dismissal and Yurtle-the-Turtle styled-governance as detailed in the exploits of Doc Foglesong.
So, will Dr. Vest invest his time? Or, is he simply a big name to calm the waters?
June 26, 2008 at 9:26 am
Even is Vest take a crap in the bathroom down the hall from the next BOG meeting, his input will be a huge impprovement to the BOG.
June 26, 2008 at 10:34 am
a hole and bobolink -
good points. even MG had the chance to be a great president. no crystal balls here. There is the term “resting on your laurels.” Let’s hope not in Vest’s case.
June 26, 2008 at 10:34 am
Perhaps you should tell him. I’m sure he’d be mightily impressed.
Or, perhaps, this is the short sightedness of WVU (and to a larger extent, WV). A sense that someone else will save us from ourselves.
Not to flame, but I think I posed a valid question. What do we get if we get someone in name only, who may unwittingly protect the system by their unfamiliarity with the scope of the problems. Right now, outside of WVU, the belief is the Gov’s daughter got a fraudulent degree, but at long last, everybody involved, including the Prez has stepped down. I’ve received several comments from the outside to the effect, “it’s over, isn’t it? Didn’t MG resign?”
June 26, 2008 at 10:46 am
For one thing, I would expect that a search for a new Prez resembling the search that gave us Garrison would set off the bullshit alarm of anyone who’s been through that process at a respectable institution.
June 26, 2008 at 11:24 am
I seriously doubt that Dr. Vest, an honorable man, would take the BOG position if he did not intend to actively participate. We have developed such low expectations that we now think the worst of everyone.
Thanks for the laugh, a hole. And I totally agree. We can only go up from here with the BOG.
June 26, 2008 at 11:39 am
I’m sure he is an honorable man. That’s not my point. I do think Carolyn H. from the lead post of today, may be correct in suggesting that Dr. V, by taking this post, is out of the run for the Interim Pres. position.
Back to the honorable man– that’s nice. But he is not dealing with honorable men. We don’t know what agreement they posed to him in terms of making a commitment. It only takes 9 BOG members to form a full quorum, and less if they vote on the issue in advance.
So, while I believe Dr. V. is a great asset and a step in the right direction, I am not inclined to believe that all is well. The same system that is recycling Case et al. (the only real recycling program on campus!) to the HSC mitigates my enthusiasm for this one appointment. Makes me wonder, hmmmm, what am I missing here? Not because I doubt Dr. V’s integrity, but because I doubt the sincerity with which he was appointed.
It seems, WVU folks have been too quick in the past to believe that this time, things would be different. Everybody breathed a sigh of relief with Dr. D. left the HSC, but no one looked forward. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Dr. Prescott was appointed, but no one looked forward. Most folks point to Dr. Prescott’s good virtues. Didn’t help him much, and in the end, it didn’t prevent “business as usual”. So forgive me if I express some trepidation. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
June 26, 2008 at 12:42 pm
bobolink -
it all remains to be seen, and your less than optimistic scenario is as realistic as any. I am hoping Vest and other new people on the BOG can insist on more transparency.
June 26, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I think you might have a bit more confidence in CHarles Vest. Someone like him will not participate in things that might endanger a reputation built over years–and keep in mind that his participation on the BoG is mostly a risk to his reputation, rather than an opportunity for further status. Unlike the rest, he has a ‘nuclear option’ in the form of a threat to resign. And, as president at MIT, I’m sure any WV pols and political games he might confront will pale in comparison with what he was involved in Massachusetts (given MIT’s involvement in big business generally, and the defense industry particularly, and, heck, the perils of local politics in Massachusetts).
June 26, 2008 at 11:22 pm
We do not place especial value on the possession of a virtue until we notice its total absence in our opponent.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Boblink: Where were you when Dr. Prescott was attempting to fight off challenges from above? Did you speak in his behalf when he suddenly resigned? Did you write letters to the editor or the BOG in appreciation of his honesty and integrity? Do you ask why he left?
From what I have read, his supporters were silent. I keep hearing about doctors who are too fearful to speak up because they have so much to lose. I’d be ashamed! Some of the most marketable, well-educated people in our society are fearful of a few political hacks! Neither the good Dr. Prescott, nor any other leader for that matter, can continue to be beaten down and continue to persevere without the support of those for whom he is fighting.
June 27, 2008 at 1:09 am
una nubes de criticas?
Poe Dunk Says: What the hell is happening there? Are the boys sitting in a room with Bill Case working on a youtube video about the greatness of WVU health?
You have hit the nail on the head! Except that there are boys and girls sitting in a room working on youtube videos about WVU greatness. They are so obsessed with non-issues and have totally convinced themselves that the problems have evaporated.
June 27, 2008 at 4:15 am
Bobolink - Sometimes the good guy doesn’t finish last - great news for Prescott is coming today - National recognition - good for him. and we lose another talented and ethical person.
BTW - Latest gossip is that Bailes wants to run the “health system” - and he’s trying to knock out the current CEO, Tom Jones, while he still has his friend’s in place - Garrison, Brick, BOGs, Mojo. He wants to get something out of this- after all, he spent alot of time and gave alot of money to this group. Bailes is also making a salary grab / office space grab while his friends are still in place - hiring yet another neurosurgeon of limited ability that isn’t needed but will be beholden to him and ‘cover some call’ so the dozen or so that are their don’t have to stay up late or miss Desperate Housewives.
Does anyone remember the last time Bailes tried this with a guy named Dr.Roland F. Chalifoux. this guy lost his liscense and priveledges in another State, I think it was Texas, and Bailes pulled some strings and got him a liscense and priviledges in WV, and let him temporatily practice at WVUH/Ruby for “supervised remedial training”. He would be taking care of our families right now at WVU if the Former Dean didn’t block the guy from becoming WVU SOM faculty (which prevented him from practicing at Ruby). he is now up in wheeling somewhere with the WV Liscense Bailes helped him get giving pain shots out in some clinic - no more neurosurgery since no Hospital in the State will give him priveledges.
June 27, 2008 at 10:32 am
Well, today it looks a little brighter with Farmer stepping down, too. I appreciate the thoughtful words of Bones and TMD, as I said, I do believe Vest to be a step in the right direction, but that doesn’t stop me from being cautious, all the same. I must say, I was quite amazed by the unnecessary hostility of Clueless. Do you always resort to baseless accusations when you don’t know who someone is? I suppose if you knew me you’d know whether I’ve been silent or not. But of course, why let something as superficial as that get in the way of your presumptions?
June 27, 2008 at 10:59 am
For what it matters……
Bailes is already in over his head as a chair- bad hiring decisions and red ink. Someone needs to get him back in the OR and out of the spotlight (the one he shines on himself)
The gov does want the pop tax- that is one of the costs he has to pay for getting the pop machines out of the schools. That would kill the hsc and local economy AND many people who work very hard lives.
There is more to the Prescott situation that you might imagine and it was not as much the hsc pushing him out as you think.
I would bet that if you walked up to any of the “interim” guys at the hsc and told them you wanted their job because you could do better they would hand it over without fight. Oh- you do have to be responsible for the impacts of your actions as well.
Thanks all I have to say….
June 27, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Prescotts are having a party tonight. They will probably announce their plans.
June 27, 2008 at 5:33 pm
“Garrison would have survived this” Maybe, but that would put WVU even further in the hole. The announcement made that Prescott was chosen to be Chief Academic Officer of the AAMC illustrates but one of the more high profile people jumping the WVU ship this year, with many more making themselves available. Yes, the changes to the BoG are promising so far, but Garrison is still here, Walker is still here, all the other players have just been shuffled slightly. There had better be some more action on the positive side and quickly.
June 27, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Horse - your facts are not correct regarding Prescott. He was asked to step down by Garrison. Dr. Prescott is outstanding, with an exemplary record, a man of great integrity, and he did not jump ship. He left because he is too good of a person to stay on.
June 27, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Rev is right - Prescott started looking for a new job AFTER he was stabbed in the back and FORCED to resign by the ‘good old boys’
June 28, 2008 at 8:08 am
Revolutionary/Bones … didn’t mean it that way, sorry, I know full well he was forced out. Similar things are true of many of those leaving now. People who are good are leaving because of Garrison or Lang, or the people at HSC, and the BOG’s failure to address any of it. The prolonging of this affair is killing us all. (By the way, I was one of the first on here to say he was fired before the announcement.)
June 28, 2008 at 10:37 am
He was fired….I heard it a week before the “announcement”
June 28, 2008 at 10:43 am
Prescott is a good man, but was a poor leader in the eyes of most UHA physicians. He was forced out; the rumored reasons are many. By all accounts he was not going along with the plans of Bailes and Garrison. But the UHA physicians are not sorry he is gone. The UHA physicians also have no faith in the Butcher/Brick regime.
June 28, 2008 at 11:26 am
Looselips - Speak for yourself, I’m sorry he’s gone, Granted did alot of riding the fence and at the end became quite indecisive, but thats because he kept getting his legs cut out from under him by thoses that had friends in high places (one neuro guy in particular.) He’d make a decision and it would be reversed by Downtown if a certain chair didn’t like it, or he would get a quick call from the Gov.
June 28, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Garrison firing Walker etc. would have been prudent IF he didn’t have anything to hide. He obviously needed to protect them (and by doing so protect himself) and hope he could ride it out. Fortunately, the PPG and many others kept the pressure on.
June 28, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Bones, I speak for many at UHA but not for all, of course. Under Prescott, Anesthesia ran amok, Uma Sundaram was supported by Prescott, Prescott persistently told underpaid physicians there was no money to pay them and did not work to correct that. To his credit, he did attempt to curb Bailes. Do you know of particular ways he had his “legs cut out from under him”?
June 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm
also, Prescott did not keep Prabukar from leaving, huge mistake.
June 28, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I heard there were 3 main reasons why Prescott left (and earlier than the Garrison crew really wanted. They wanted him hang tight a little longer):
1. He did not want Bailes to sell his OmegaRx to WVU patients
2. He did not approve of the R and V contract
3. He did not want Baile to circumvent the hiring process for the anesthesiologist buddy of his from Tulane.
There is no finer man than John Prescott. He was roped in by the Gov and Garrison and his efforts to improve HSC were thwarted daily. The interims helped undercut him with manipulation behind the scenes on a regular basis.
June 28, 2008 at 2:46 pm
The HSC Search Committee must be revamped. More than half of the folks are politically connected and personally ambitious; who is the consultant? I see that he has a degree from LSU and despite his other excellent credentials, I have to wonder about a Bailes link.
Any thoughts on the committee which met recently and chances of being reconfigured.
June 28, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Poe Dunk, Prescott and McClymonds were at serious odds. Do you know why?
June 28, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Let me ask around. Prior to R and V’s leaving, McClymonds and Jones and Neely were being shoved out. Not sure where that stands today. They may have gotten a retrieve.
June 28, 2008 at 7:36 pm
No word on where Garrison plans to work post Sept 1?
June 29, 2008 at 10:09 am
Doorman at the Waterfront?
June 29, 2008 at 10:47 am
Heard that Garrison will be overseeing the restructure of the hsc
June 29, 2008 at 10:48 am
and looselips et al - Prescott’s hands were tied, which led to his not being able to do what needed done.
June 29, 2008 at 10:50 am
and as far as the search committee - you are correct there, too. The need for more transparency is a must.
June 29, 2008 at 11:07 am
Revolutionary: Garrison overseeing restructuring?? Do you have any credible basis for that? Can’t even put my head around that now that R&V were fired. Garrison has zero credibility at HSC
June 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
Recall his words at the time he announced that he was “stepping down” from the presidency? He clearly stated that he would be following through with his plans for the hsc. And yes, I do happen to know this to be true. Case went back to hsc, too.
June 29, 2008 at 11:54 am
R&V were fired after that speech and after his seismic change quote. Case’s job at HSC is not yet determined.
June 29, 2008 at 12:20 pm
No, but Case is getting a nice office in an obvious place.
RE: the doorman position. There is not much traffic at Waterfront Place. I doubt that Petroplus and the rest of the gang are all that pleased that the Boy Wonder failed in his missions of quietly awarding Bresch degree, Rich Rod situation, and with R & V.
June 29, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Poe Dunk, not to mention the possible “donation” of 2 Waterfront to the University?
June 29, 2008 at 2:25 pm
good point, horse. There have to be a few developers unhappy about the property Mylan wants, the WVU Farm and Waterfront Place.
June 29, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Does BOG have power to ask for changes in HSC Search Committee? Wells is gone; Vanin, Neely, Nusbaum, Clark, Bailes, Brick all seem to have too much baggage to be do this job.
June 30, 2008 at 2:05 pm
You guys need a REAL REVAMPING of the HSC…start by getting rid of the talking head,fence sitter Butcher
June 30, 2008 at 2:07 pm
We need a To Do list and provide to new BOG.
June 30, 2008 at 2:57 pm
i wonder how the “spinmaster butcher(a fitting last name)” is going to address the Prescott issue……..i just received a Butcher letter telling us all of the great things Prescott has done,but that he wanted to go back to his roots and focus on patient care in the emergency room…….only NOW to be named to a BIG Position with the AAMC……..Fred,maybe you need to return to your roots and start washing bunson burners and flasks in the lab.you were less of a problem there………….
June 30, 2008 at 2:59 pm
When Dr. Bailes provides his “nutritional supplements” to patients, how is this billed?
June 30, 2008 at 3:30 pm
He takes cash or checks - you can make them out to him. seriously.
June 30, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Just finished watching some of his videos online. Do you know other docs who sell products to patients within the WVU system?
June 30, 2008 at 3:39 pm
None - I think its against the rules.
June 30, 2008 at 3:58 pm
so now we have a snake oil salesman……….pretty soon you’re gonna tell me that you have a flyfishing dean…………….
June 30, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I think Bailes is privileged. Just think how many folks want to sell Pampered Chef, Avon, and encyclopedias to the patients. They should sue. This stinks!
June 30, 2008 at 4:55 pm
PPG reporters, please look into this.
June 30, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Does anyone know whether Fox, the anesthesiology chair applicant (Bailes engineered) was hired or whether that fell through?
June 30, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Doctors are in a position of power when they see patients and should not ’sell’ them things - thats ethics 101 in med school, just like you can’t take loans from patients or have sex with them. that’s why MDs cannot own there own pharmacies or MRIs - to big a conflict of interest.
June 30, 2008 at 5:55 pm
MDs do own their own MRIs
June 30, 2008 at 6:05 pm
They are allowed to own a portion of MRIs but must be able to prove that they do not regularly refer patients to them - and if I’m not mistaken WV is now in the process of passing legislation that would disallow even this.
June 30, 2008 at 6:08 pm
not entirely true anonym……you can own your own machine,or pharmacy..you cant refer and then receive a “kickback”.(stark laws)….but with “ownership” comes risks/benefits…….just like any other business..and unfortunately, society has wanted physicians to be regulated as “businesses”…….selling snakeoil in a clinic, is similar to selling “unlabbeled chemotherapy” or chemotherapy “off label”.it should come with full disclosure and signing of a consent form….i suspect that Doctor Bailes does not “consent” his patients to buy his snakeoil,and that is where the ethical rift would be………the whole Bailes deal smells “fishy”…
June 30, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Thanks - sorry about that
June 30, 2008 at 6:37 pm
apparently fox should be here by mid-summer…
June 30, 2008 at 6:45 pm
This just doesn’t make sense. The American Medical Student Association has a scorecard to rate medical schools on conflicts of interest. (www.amsascorecard.org) Sorry, I didn’t read the link tutorial! WVU got a “D”. Pitt received an “A”. Prior to Dr. Prescott’s leaving a draft went around with rules regarding interactions with pharmaceutical companies. It mentioned things like lunches, drug samples, gifts including pens.
How can it be ok to sell your own fish oil to patients and it be a conflict of interest to take a pen from a drug rep?
You are right Poe Dunk~some clinic staff who sell Avon, Pampered Chef, etc. to their co-workers, not patients, have to hide the books.
June 30, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Prescott got a big shove when he told Bailes to quit selling fish oil. This is definitely investigation material. I was hoping the patients were billed, making it a federal crime and not just a huge ethical question.
There needs to be a gigantic push to restructure the HSC Search Committee. And start by removing anyone whose name is on cover of the R and V report.
June 30, 2008 at 6:58 pm
someone who is in the know tell me, Does Bailes’ involvement with R&V and Garrison move him closer to the back of the bus or does he still wield just as much power as before?
June 30, 2008 at 7:26 pm
One would think that anyone who helped R & V(and Butcher and Brick would count with Bailes) would be thrown off the bus or maybe run over. But this is a nutsy place. A fear is that he is quickly negotiating a contract with Garrison before Sept 1 to become the VP for health whatever. Leaving Garrison allows for even more damage.
Is there someone besides the Governor in the know?
June 30, 2008 at 7:30 pm
There are people who read this blog who know, if I can just get them to talk.
June 30, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Where are azlo and jmbwvu? You don’t think they went on the Dr. Barry Sears of Zone Diet and Omega Rx fame “Boston to Bermuda” cruise with Dr. Bailes, also of Omega Rx fame, do you? Anyone seen Fred Butcher this week?
June 30, 2008 at 7:33 pm
jmbwvu is Brick and he isn’t going to tell you
June 30, 2008 at 7:33 pm
azlo doesn’t know
June 30, 2008 at 7:45 pm
yeah. Okay, let’s try something else. The R and V website has an In the News section. They say that 2 Harvard researchers (unnamed) in a Commonwealth Fund published article cite Wheeling Hospital “Among the Top 10 Hospitals for Quality of Care” and that they are responsible for this. Anyone seen the article? I tried locating it but failed. It seems preposterous.
June 30, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Who knows anything about Dr. Choppin, the “consultant” to the HSC Search Committee? On paper he looks like an asset, but I’m concerned about his LSU background which might tie him to Bailes. Am I wrong? How was he selected?
June 30, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Hoppy must be getting information from this blog. He is now saying Magrath might be the new interim.
He also says that a likely scenario for Garrison is that he will have no role at WVU after Sept. 1. Hope he knows what he is talking about.
June 30, 2008 at 8:05 pm
http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=25275
June 30, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Magrath was President at 3 public universities, but I forget which ones. Will he have experience with an academic health setting?
June 30, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hoppy is extremely accessible. he may not like what you say, but he takes it in and even publicly agrees with you if he learns you are right.
June 30, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I like this part of Garrison’s deposition-
Q. And how many colleges are there at West Virginia University?
A. I don’t know the exact number of how many colleges there are. There are –
Q. You don’t? It’s your own institution.
A. I could, trying to create a list, if you like, but there are, there are several.
June 30, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Q. And on page 8, you registered for Heather M. Bresch, Mylan, M-Y-L-A-N,
6 Laboratories, Inc.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. When did you first meet Heather Bresch?
A. I’m not sure of the exact year.
Q. Well, this was dated February 6 of ‘04. Did you meet her before that?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is she about your age?
A. She is.
Q. Did you go to school together?
A. Went to high school together, yes, sir.
Q. Did you date her?
A. I did not.
June 30, 2008 at 8:45 pm
walrus-incredible
June 30, 2008 at 8:47 pm
and last one, i promise:
Q. And you consider yourself a very bright person?
A. Do I consider myself a very bright person?
Q. Yeah. Do you?
A. I’m sorry, could you restate your question.
Q. Do you consider yourself a very bright person, intellectually?
A. Do I; is that what you’re asking?
Q. Yes.
A. I do okay. I’m certainly lucky to have worked with a lot of, a lot of people that are a lot smarter than me over the years.
June 30, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Walrus: Googoogajoob!
June 30, 2008 at 8:59 pm
was he asked the bright person question after the how many colleges one
June 30, 2008 at 9:03 pm
he was asked it later in the deposition
June 30, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Heard Prescott resigned, or was forced to resign, when he refused to open all of the books to R&V.
June 30, 2008 at 9:55 pm
The administrators at other Big East institutions, not to mention, other colleges and universities would be scratching their heads in disbelief and wondering just what the fuck we are doing in this state, if they were to read Mikey’s answers to some of these questions.
He might just be the single dumbest administrator to ever be hired, at any college, anywhere, ever.
The adminstrators at the University of Phoenix have more street cred than this clown.