Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
USC Admits To History Of Complaints And Disciplining Of Former Med School Dean
Ex-Dean of Keck School of Medicine of USC Carmen A. Puliafito with U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, USC First Lady Niki Nikias and USC President C. L. Max Nikias. (Photo via Facebook)
()
In a letter to the USC community, school President C.L. Max Nikias admitted to a history of complaints and leadership negligence from former Keck School of Medicine Dean Anthony Puliafito, who has been the subject of scandalous revelations from the L.A. Times about his ties to drug use and overdoses during his 10-year tenure with the school. He repeatedly sought company with drug users—often bringing them on the Keck School of Medicine campus after-hours— and dated a former prostitute who ended up overdosing next to Puliafito at a Pasadena hotel.
In the letter, President Nikias outlines how USC received several complaints of Puliafito's behavior as dean, which they addressed through University disciplinary action and leadership coaching. He also describes a pattern of leadership disengagement from Puliafito during the last two years of his tenure. Apparently school administrators confronted Puliafito in March of 2016, and he resigned at the end of that month. Nikias claims USC had no specific knowledge of illegal or illicit activities at the time.
He writes in the letter how a communications staff member received a tip about the Pasadena hotel incident in the fall of 2016, but that it was unsubstantiated. The L.A. Ties says it has spent the past 15 months making innumerable unanswered calls and inquiries with the University.
Up until the L.A. Times released its scathing exposé, USC still had Puliafito represent the school at fundraisers and he was still accepting patients for his ophthalmology practice. The former dean was known for his ability to attract money from high-profile donors, bringing in over $1 billion in donations (no wonder he had a $1.1 million yearly salary). After the investigation was released, Puliafito stopped accepting patients and was put on leave. USC has now hired its own investigator and has barred Puliafito from campus and from having any affiliation with the university, according to the L.A. Times.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist