‘Chaos’ at Campus Health: Employees cite burnout, abuse, dangerous levels of turnover
December 2, 2021
Content Warning: The following article contains subject matter pertaining to suicide and self harm.
Ryan Judd said that when he started working as a staff therapist at the Tulane University Counseling Center, it was the best job he could have asked for. Stephanie Choy, another former staff therapist, said when she started “it always felt like we were listened to … like the focus was on meeting students’ needs.”
Since spring 2021, more than a dozen staffers have resigned from Campus Health. According to Counseling Center employees, tensions boiled over after a meeting in January 2021, during which Scott Tims, assistant vice president for campus health, accused staff of turning away students in crisis among other complaints. Employees describe being blindsided by the accusations in front of senior leadership at Tulane.
“I was devastated,” Judd said about leaving the Counseling Center. Choy echoed that sentiment. “I did not want to leave,” she said.
The situation within the Center only grew worse, employees said, when Lilian Odera assumed directorship in March 2021. According to employees, turnover accelerated and caseloads have skyrocketed. Former staffers describe being forced to refer students to outside care at their own cost due to full schedules, without follow-up from Tulane counselors.
Current employees under Odera say they are reluctant to speak publicly due to fear of retaliation. Those who did, said that employees are still fearful, isolated and closely watched. The Tulane Hullabaloo granted anonymity to individuals still employed with Tulane.
One staff member’s resignation from the Counseling Center was effective Nov. 18.
Fully staffed, the Counseling Center has 18 employees. Mike Strecker, assistant vice president for communications, said that there are currently 12 clinicians or individuals giving care to patients. Two are not yet licensed to practice in Louisiana. Current employees said the true number of clinicians is as low as seven.
Tims was promoted to oversee campus health in 2015. He has a Ph.D. in Public Health and supervises Odera, a psychologist who joined as the director for the Counseling Center. She came to Tulane from Salisbury University.
According to Matthew Sobesky, former interim director for the Counseling Center, decisions made by Tims, and later Odera, drive much of what he describes as Campus Health’s “chaos.”
Tims declined to comment on allegations made against him by employees.
Caring for students
Nearly every former Campus Health employee spoken to described a feeling of guilt about abandoning the student body.
Judd’s separation from Tulane was not amicable. He recounted Odera “screaming” at him about an email he sent to the Counseling Center staff questioning the lack of information around a medical student suicide in the summer of 2021.
Previously, Judd said clinicians were told by administrators in the event of a student death. In this instance, he said that clinicians first heard about it from students.
Related Coverage
Tims, Odera to leave Tulane Campus Health
Tulane Campus Health breach left patient names, appointments visible
According to Judd, Tims demanded that he leave campus without completing his final sessions with clients. Judd said that he refused to do so, citing his ethical and professional obligations to his patients.
Judd said that Tims threatened to call the Tulane University Police Department to forcibly remove him from campus. Other clinicians confirmed this account.
As a result, Judd was not allowed to complete his termination sessions with students. Termination sessions are a critical part of a therapeutic relationship.
According to Judd, Tims and Odera forbade other counselors from explaining to his clients what happened.
Odera declined to comment on allegations made against her by employees. However, in an interview with The Hullabaloo, she emphasized her commitment to students in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout America’s racial reckoning.
In a written statement, Strecker said “Dr. Odera has been focused on maximizing existing resources to continue to provide uninterrupted care to students while working to fill existing vacancies.”
According to Strecker, the Counseling Center experienced a higher level of turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend he said was reflected in university counseling centers across the country.
Choy said that she was not able to fulfill her ethical duty to her patients because her schedule was too full to meet with students at the frequency they needed.
Alleged toxicity, intimidation, shaming
Current and former employees describe the meeting on Jan. 27 as a turning point for them. They said that this meeting was symptomatic of “abusive” behavior by Tims. At the time, Sobesky was serving as interim director for the Counseling Center.
According to several former employees, Tims accused the Counseling Center staff of negligence in front of university leadership, including Dusty Porter, vice president for student affairs, and Erica Woodley, assistant vice president for student affairs. Staff were not permitted to defend themselves against these accusations during the meeting.
“He was alleging that we just didn’t know what we were doing,” Sobesky said.
As captured by a recording of the meeting, Tims claimed, “I have received frequent reports of students being unable to be seen same day … To be clear, students crying in the lobby were not allowed to see a licensed provider crying, upset, in crisis.”
Strecker echoed that assessment and said “Last year, student complaints led to a review of Counseling Center practices after the departure of Dr. Bender. Specifically, we received multiple complaints of students being turned away when in crisis and not being able to access therapy.”
Multiple current and former Campus Health clinicians dispute Tims’ allegation that students in crisis were turned away. “In a crisis, of course nobody was going to ever be turned away,” former Staff Therapist Ginette Arguello said.
Sobesky said that he was unaware of the review referenced by Strecker. “To my knowledge there [was] never any formal review of the counseling center and if this did occur, never was I informed of any significant concerns or infractions during the limited supervision and support meetings with [Dr. Tims]. The omission of these concerns actually led [me] to believe that we were ‘keeping the ship afloat’ during my tenure as interim director as I was asked to do by [Dr. Tims].”
“There are continued identifications of perfidious behavior … I feel lied to and misled about many things,” Tims said.
The employees interviewed uniformly deny that they lied to leadership. Belinda Avila, a former patient representative, said that the Counseling Center had been understaffed even before the pandemic.
“They harm themselves. It’s all of our responsibility because we didn’t do what our job is to do,” Tims said in the recording after previously referencing an increase in suicide attempts and self harm within the student body.
I do not believe there is a circumstance in which you say to a staff member that they are at fault for a student death. As mental health professionals, we carry this burden daily. We take it home with us.
— Matthew Sobesky
Many on the staff at the time said the meeting was traumatic. A current employee said that it felt like “an assault.” In a report to Human Resources, Sobesky described the meeting as a humiliation. Belinda Avila, a former patient representatives, said she had “mild PTSD” for months after.
“The message,” Choy said, “was that I wasn’t doing enough. That I didn’t care about students.”
“It was such an abusive experience,” Arguello said. She resigned two months after that meeting.
Over the past several months conversations have occurred to address these issues and ensure that no student walking into the counseling center would be turned away without care.
— Mike Strecker
In an email sent March 5, Porter told Counseling Center staff that the purpose of the meeting “was not to make employees feel bad.”
“Rather,” Porter wrote, “it was to ensure that our students get the support they need and have the strongest educational experience possible.”
Staff said it had the opposite impact. According to Sobesky, Tims provided “no evidence” to support his claims. In the meeting, Tims referenced “frequent reports” and “concerns,” but did not elaborate in detail on all of his claims.
Porter did not directly respond to a request for comment. Speaking on his behalf, Strecker said, “Dr. Porter is confident that the Counseling Center is being managed in a professional and productive manner by Dr. Odera and Dr. Tims.”
Arguello said that Tims never provided staff with specific information about wrongdoing. Instead, he told Counseling Center employees that a member of the Campus Health Senior Leadership Team would occupy an office in the Counseling Center to ensure that they complied with his directives.
At best, this created an uncomfortable situation for Counseling Center staff and several on his own leadership team. At worst, one of his staff members, Shannon Gabriel, RN, took active steps to disrupt clinic operations and bully the Counseling Center staff.
— Complaint to Tulane University Human Resources
Multiple clinicians said that the meeting left them uncertain about what they were doing wrong, causing them mental strain. “This place is no longer — is no longer good for me. I’m not sleeping. I dread coming into work every single day,” Avila said.
A current employee put it more bluntly. “When people come in here, we have to be really centered … If we’re dysregulated, we literally cannot do our jobs.”
‘Students at great risk’
Shortly after the meeting, “many concerned members of the Tulane Counseling Center staff” sent President Mike Fitts and Robin Forman, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, an email pleading for Fitts to intervene.
“We are afraid of potential retaliation by Dr. Tims and other leaders,” they wrote. “Dr. Tims has created … an unsafe feeling of institutionally sanctioned harassment.”
The presence of senior leadership, as well as HR, “can only suggest tacit approval of such treatment,” the email continued.
According to Sobesky, Fitts, Forman and two officials from the Office of Institutional Equity did not respond to the anonymous email.
In the aftermath of the meeting, Sobesky and other staffers described being watched by leadership at Campus Health.
According to staffers, Tims’ leadership team would monitor their calendars. “[We were] told when we could, [and] just how long we could go to, for a bathroom break,” Arguello said.
In one instance, a clinician said they received a video call from Shannon Gabriel, director of nursing, demanding an explanation as to what the clinician was doing. The clinician said they were in the middle of following up on their outpatient referrals.
Arguello said it became “impossible to be present in a session.”
“People would feel nervous about going to a doctor’s appointment,” Choy said.
Contrary to Tims’ accusations, Avila said that a clinician would “never” turn away a patient if they had space in their schedule. A current clinician said their caseload is over 40 students. Another clinician said they were responsible for 38 students.
Everybody’s afraid.
— Current Counseling Center employee
“I would rather not have a retirement plan than continue to work in this environment,” a current staff member said. “[I’ve] never seen such bad management.” Another current employee said she is struck with anxiety as soon as she enters the building.
Ongoing crisis
Today, the Counseling Center does not have a psychiatrist. According to Avila, Tims went after their salaries, and the Counseling Center went from having access to “four, five psychiatrists” to having just one by fall 2021. That psychiatrist has since resigned.
An undergraduate student said that their former clinician at Tulane was “dumped” with a massive caseload, and pressured by Campus Health leadership to shorten their consultations to 30 minutes. According to the same student, that individual, a doctor, resigned as a result of the directive.
A current Campus Health employee said that only a few staff members are able to diagnose and write prescriptions for students. “They’re technically qualified to do so, but they don’t have any experience dealing with psychiatric evaluations,” the employee said.
According to that same employee, one doctor, Dr. Marius Commodore, can write psychiatric prescriptions at Campus Health. They added that Commodore and a nurse practitioner are the only individuals able to provide psychiatric care.
For the students, said a current employee, “there’s no continuity of care.”
“There were students on my caseload that I had to transfer to someone else who had already been transferred … one, two times already,” Choy said.
Sobesky described Tims as a “highly skilled presenter.” He went on to say that Tims had a great ability to articulate the vision and mission statement of an organization but lacked the capacity to realize that vision with action.
Dysfunction, poor understanding
Former employees described Donna Bender, the previous director of the Counseling Center, as supportive and protective. Bender declined to comment.
“Donna Bender was the best mentor,” Arguello said.
According to Campus Health employees, Bender sheltered staff from Tims and Sobesky attempted to do the same.
“[Bender] protected us from all that dysfunction, and she created an environment and a space where we could do our jobs effectively,” a former therapist said.
Staff said they were initially hopeful about Odera’s leadership.
“We felt hopeful [she’d] come and be a buffer between us and all the other campus health dysfunction,” said that same therapist.
“Dr. Odera arrived and it really didn’t get better … it actually got worse,” Choy said. “So many more people started leaving and then a lot of issues snowballed out of that.”
“She was totally unopened to any kind of feedback,” Judd said. “I was in charge of the eating disorder [response] … I made a case, look here’s some numbers. We need to seriously up the resources … let’s get clinical consultations; let’s get trainings. They just laughed, like, ‘What do you know?’”
Some members of the Campus Health staff said the changes that did get implemented sometimes had unintended consequences. “On its face, they are intended to put students first, but in practice don’t accomplish those things, and there’ve been a few examples that actually make it harder,” Choy said.
Vicious cycle of turnover
Current employees said they believe that turnover will only grow worse, leaving fewer employees to handle increasing numbers of students.
You get so burnt out that … you just want to keep your job. The worker that comes in becomes isolated, and then everybody doesn’t help anybody else. They’re just looking out for just themselves. And that happens every time … They become anxious, and it becomes horrible. It went from this collaboration [within] Campus Health and the Counseling Center, to a complete breakdown of isolation within employees, because everybody is afraid to step on anyone’s toes and be reprimanded.
— Belinda Avila
After a well-publicized spate of student deaths in 2014-2015, Tulane committed to improving access to mental healthcare. An open-submission letter to Fitts grew to 50 pages, with many criticizing the underfunding of counseling.
According to Strecker, funding for the Counseling Center has “increased substantially” in the past seven years and has resulted in more counselors and available services. “When fully staffed, the center will have 18 full-time employees, representing a higher ratio of staff to student than most of our peers,” Strecker said.
Today, Tulane has ten licensed clinicians servicing a student body of 14,472. Since August 2021, TUPD has responded to more than a dozen incidents of students in mental health crises.
If you are a current Campus Health employee and wish to share your experience anonymously, please email us at [email protected].
For Tulane affiliates in need of immediate medical attention, the Tulane University Police Department can be reached at (504) 865-5911. For non-affiliates, dial 911.
The New Orleans Alliance on Mental Illness Crisis Line can be reached 24/7 by texting “NAMI” to 741741.
Students in need of additional support can contact the Residential Advisor on call in their residence hall. Students may also call the on-call Case Manager at 504-920-9900.
For LGBTQ+ students, the Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to those under 25 and can be reached at 866-488-7386.
The Employee Assistance Program is available for faculty and staff seeking counseling or support. Information about Employee Assistance Programs can be found at https://hr.tulane.edu/benefits/employee-assistance-program.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24 hours a day at 800-273-8255.
Happiness is working outside of Tulane • Dec 16, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Reminds me of my experience working at Campus Recreation under the aggressive intimidating tactics of Wendy Windsor & Steve Leitch. Of course when I went to HR to express my concerns over Leitch’s inappropriate/aggressive behavior, I experience retaliation & was eventually terminated (thank god! it forced me to leave that unhealthy situation and discover what it truly means to finally work under competent sane individuals!).
Tulane’s HR, Campus Rec, & Counseling Services are all present to promote mental & physical health in image only. In reality, there are a lot of very “unhealthy” individuals in charge of those departments.
Anonymous • Dec 8, 2021 at 10:51 pm
not defending tims but it’s not uncommon to share your work calendar with colleagues or direct reports
Alumnus • Dec 13, 2021 at 7:56 pm
That seems like a pretty minor point in light of everything else going on here, no? It is uncommon to berate good employees and drive them to quit (or at least it should be).
Former Well Employee • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:14 am
I worked for The Well, which is a part of campus health for a little over a year and I can confirm everything they say about leadership at caps and Dr. Scott tims is true…If you don’t kiss up to him and praise him , he is rude. It became very clear to me, to get far in the department you have to blindly follow him. He makes everyone uncomfortable and we were told by our immediate supervisors and the head of the Well to ignore it and they would make up excuses for his behavior during staff meetings. The staff is literally scared of him and he likes it that way. The Well upper levels just take whatever he throws at them blindly and it’s pathetic imo, no leadership at all….I’ll never forget one summer I walked from the health center to the LBC on my lunch break and was taking to a friend. It was summer in Louisiana so it was hot as you know, and my campus health sweater was off. I saw him and spoke and he said nothing. (He often stares at you until you speak to him and then he does not respond) 10 minutes later I got a text from my supervisor saying I had a formal warning for violating the dress code. I was on my lunch break and no where near campus health. My supervisor didn’t see a problem with my outfit, but they did nothing to defend me even after they admitted they didn’t know what the problem was with my dress…I honestly believe he did that because he could…Because Campus Health generates money Dr Tim’s believes he can do and act however he wants and Dusty let’s him do it
Former GA at the WELL • Dec 8, 2021 at 8:28 am
I, too, can corroborate the stories from former staff about poor treatment, unfair management, and the playing of favorites. I have had a number of poor bosses in my day, but none have been more toxic than Scott Tims. I also know for a fact that a formal complaint was filed against him in the summer of 2012 when he was still only the director of the WELL. I provided an email in support of the original complainant, which was acknowledged as received and never followed up on. It was about two years later that he was elevated to his VP position, I believe.
While Tims is unquestionably a narcissist who only cares about what others can do for him, he is also a symptom of a larger problem, a division at Tulane that doesn’t listen to feedback or care about the concerns of their student body at all.
Tulane still has not responded to this article! • Dec 8, 2021 at 12:27 am
Dear Hullabaloo Staff:
Now a week has passed since you published your eye-opening article on campus health, and alumna, former and current employees and students have left 120 comments corroborating the story in stunning, first-person detail. The University Administration has said nothing.
Perhaps the Hullabaloo should approach the university again for a comment and write a follow-up story. You might ask the Administration if there is a means for a student, employee, or professional to complain in good faith about what they perceive is a hostile work environment, violation of law, regulation or university policy, without fear of retaliation? Does the Administration plan to take any action at all, and if so, what?
Thank you for your excellent work.
Alumnus • Dec 8, 2021 at 4:05 pm
I second this appeal! I truly hope the courageous student journalists at The Hullabaloo are working on a follow-up to this important and impactful story. Only sustained criticism and bad publicity have any hope of forcing an otherwise indifferent and intransigent administration to do something about the serial abuser and soulless narcissist running Campus Health into the ground.
In the meantime, we can throw them a bone by donating to support their work: https://www.businesstulanehullabaloo.com/save-the-hullabaloo
Staff • Dec 9, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Yes! Where is the TU administration on this? WHy is Scott Tims still an employee here? I have never worked in campus health, but I know people who have. Everything in this article and these comments is true. As a long time staffer at the university, I can also attest to the complete lack of regard for staff when it comes to support from administration or HR pertaining to workforce issues. Hullabaloo reporters–keep on pressing the issue. Reach out to all the organizations listed in comments, and do a push to the local news outlets. Clearly there is a top-down suppression of information happening, as this has not made the local media circuit at all. Until there is transparent coverage of these power plays within the university, people like Lee Hamm, Scott Tims, Dusty Porter, Erica Woodley, et al. will be allowed to indulge in their narcissistic professional ambitions with no accountability. There have been enough scandals and enough reports from students, staff, and other TU community members to warrant the resignation of any of the above-mentioned people. Clearly nothing is going to change until they are publicly addressed by the media.
Concernedwithtenorofcomments • Dec 7, 2021 at 8:38 pm
When does this become online bullying and harassment? People are attacking loads of people. These people have families and lives and reputations. I’m not sure a comment section should be available for an article like this. I’m just an observer, but I think it’s distasteful that there are over 100 comments gleefully seeking to destroy the careers and lives of people. Shouldn’t the story be about an incompetent HR department?Or shouldn’t there be some mechanism by which current employees can comment? Many of these things are HR issues and are supposes to be private. I don’t know. Maybe this is where we are at. Where cohorts of former employees can anonymously assassinate the character of anyone they wish on a public forum. I think the appropriate thing would be to shut down these increasingly vitriolic comments and instigate a third party investigation.
Concernedwithtenorofcomments • Dec 7, 2021 at 8:45 pm
I guess what I’m saying is I’d these people were rude or incompetent is the only answer to potentially destroy thier loves and carriers. I understand many of those commenting changed jobs, but can you still work? Can you feed yourself and your family? And if that is the case is potentially ruining the lives of these people commensurate with them instigating someone to quit and/or finding employment elsewhere? And honestly, I am concerned that counselors and social workers seem so cavalier about battering and villifying people on so public a forum. What if this leads to depression or self harm? Is that justified? I don’t think so. Some of these people sound at best incompetent and at worst insensitive, rude, and overbearing. I don’t think these concerns should go unexamined, but there is a cruelty and vindictive essay emerging here that I don’t think is becoming or appropriate for those whose vocation requires empathy, compassion, and caution.
It's OK to be Angry • Dec 7, 2021 at 10:22 pm
Do not mistake the validation of people’s feelings and experiences after a literal decade of gaslighting and abuse as “vindictive” and “gleeful.” People are angry and upset, and rightfully so. The passion in these comments is what happens when you are finally listened to after years of being at best ignored, and at worst, actively punished for daring to speak up. To criticize the manner in which these experiences are communicated, rather than focusing on the actual mistreatment and abuse of staff, is missing the forest for the trees.
Concernedwithtenorofcomments • Dec 8, 2021 at 10:55 am
People have called him a “psychopath”. I don’t think it kind or appropriate to call someone a “psychopath”.
They have mocked the way he “stares at you”.
They have remarked that they were sad “because they had to sit at a table” with him. T
hey have even mocked his credentials.
All of this seems vindictive and honestly cowardly since this is all being done anonymously. Though I understand the need for anonymity.
Does anyone know if this individual might fall on the spectrum? He seems to have difficulty connecting with people. Mirroring their facial expressions. Makes strange jokes.
Neurotypical people often perceive those on the spectrum as rude or odd.
I’m just saying… for mental health professionals many of us are not being very professional.
And how is the public battering of people’s reputations “validating”.
Emotional validation is the process of learning about, understanding and expressing acceptance of another person’s emotional experience. This seems like an unfocused pile-on.
And I’m just curious, how were you gaslighted?
And how were you abused?
I am truly interested in learning more about this. I’m not contesting that you were, I am curious.
Not Having It • Dec 8, 2021 at 1:36 pm
I’m new to commenting here. I think it’s really essential to know that this article and the comments that have followed have only appeared after many, many, many conversations with HR by numerous employees over many years. They have been ignored. The article describes a letter that was sent to President Fitts and Provost Rob Forman, along with other HR leaders and nothing was done. FIFTEEN counseling center staff members have resigned since March alone. That’s just the counseling department. And these activities are recent. The harm that this leadership has caused goes back years, and when staff are harmed, so are students and people are ready for it to stop. I’m sure you’ve noticed that there has been no response from said leaders and there likely won’t be. They do not care. And the revolving door will continue, the harm to staff and their families will continue, and the fear is that it will take a tragedy for someone with power to actually investigate what is happening here. My guess is that there has been enough harm to the mental physical, and emotional health of the staff over the years to have grounds for a class action law suit. And to the point of comments remaining anonymous, perhaps you haven’t read the numerous suggestions that Tulane is a retaliatory environment in which people are afraid to speak up. I do agree there are some harsh words and comments that border professionalism, but your attempt to focus the conversation on the way this all has been communicated (vs the content) is actually perpetuating the system of oppression that this article is attempting to address.
Concerned Employee • Dec 8, 2021 at 5:58 am
This article only shed light on what’s been going on for a while under the leadership of the people mentioned in the article. Until you have worked in the conditions that some have worked in and some still are is hard and HR does nothing. Everyone has an opinion and of course you have yours, but because they have families to feed and take care of, does that justify the mistreatment of others? I have always been taught you treat people as you would want to be treated, so in saying that, should they continue to be allowed to mistreat others because HR is doing nothing?
Don’t feel sorry for the abuser • Dec 8, 2021 at 8:25 am
Are you kidding me? Oh no, poor manipulative abusive Scott may have his feelings hurt and have a hard time finding a job again (that is, if tulane actually holds him accountable). That’s kind of the point. We aren’t being vindictive or mean, we are pushing for accountability and to protect the well-being of students and staff.
ehhhh • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:42 am
So… yes and no.
For the most part, we’re not talking about low level, lower middle class employees being dragged through the mud here. Most of the comments here are consolidating around a small handful of very well paid, powerful and privileged white men who need to be held accountable. They can cry a river.
I would be a lot more hesitant to openly criticize the middle level underlings who are just following orders. There’s something problematic in their behavior too, but they don’t deserve to have their reputations suffer like the big guys do. Folks should be mindful of openly naming those people.
Concernedwithtenorofcomments • Dec 8, 2021 at 10:37 am
Thank you. I agree there is a difference between upper and middle management. And there are a lot of names that have been thrown around on here who are definitely not top admins.
Staffystaffstaff • Dec 13, 2021 at 2:58 pm
Who? Scott Tims, Dusty Porter, Erica Woodley? The president and provost? Those are all top level admins.
May I also suggest that if one does not want their name dragged through the mud, then they should not conduct their leadership in a way that abuses their employees or community?
I’m not sorry. Scott Tims is all the horrible things people have said is. I’m sure his parents think he is a very good boy, but when it comes to being a professional person in a powerful role, he has abused that power.
If the lowlings among us never speak up and call out the numerous abuses of power, nothing will ever change. People want transparency and accountability.
Take Note • Dec 7, 2021 at 10:46 am
Tulane is a research university that disregards large bodies of research when it comes to leadership and management.
https://www.inc.com/lisa-curtis/as-great-resignation-accelerates-ceos-face-a-grand-reckoning.html?cid=sf01002&fbclid=IwAR1QLD91rTeijpDwQYuZ0OScL8P_2SHv5V0ZPGBzq2OTE_V-cdJko7eEWlA
Former Campus Health Employee • Dec 8, 2021 at 8:52 am
i can confirm this, i used to work for campus health too…they ignore the research and focus on what makes the university look good, even if it’s not helpful for the students
Sinking Leadership • Dec 6, 2021 at 9:25 am
Of course I won’t be surprised if Tulane doesn’t fire Tims (or Porter or Woodley for that matter) but you know whats really shocking? If you claim to be a “leader”- how would you not submit a resignation letter immediately, Monday morning, after all this comes out?? Because clearly the core population you serve has lost confidence in your ability to lead. It doesn’t make sense. Since when did Student Affairs staff believe it “congruent” with ones values (or “transformational”/ “servant” leadership) to completely write off the serious concerns of so many staff and students when being called to account for harmful actions?? That’s not modeling Leadership, it just proves that white patriarchal culture truly is about power hoarding, domination, denial and individualism.
Anon • Dec 7, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Erica Woodley is the most awful human on this planet. I worked under her, and she acted like she was given the power of God. Please keep in mind this was a long time ago, and from what I hear, she has NOT changed. SHE SHOULD GO! SHE IS TOXIC!
Warning Imploring and Story • Dec 6, 2021 at 7:13 am
Warning:
In all likelihood, Scott Tims will be Tulane University’s next Vice President of Student Affairs. Let this truth sink in. This is the trajectory. Dusty Porter, set to retire soon, has groomed Tims for this position during his tenure with Campus Health. Porter and the University have not only allowed his behavior, they have celebrated him. Tims shows the intentions and track record to consolidate power and advance himself with disdain for anyone not perceived as loyalists. Remind you of anyone? Without intervention, this doesn’t just continue, it gets worse.
Implore:
I implore you to write to one or several of the various entities kindly and thoughtfully provided by previous writers in the comments thread. These comments have taken on a life of their own and are powerful but need to be consolidated where it matters.
Story:
The following occurred at approximately 8 am on 1/25/2021. Tulane HR has documentation of this verbatim. It could not be published because other staff present have not yet corroborated the events. However, it is consistent with the themes and experiences scattered throughout this thread, and an additional example of the pathological absence of empathy from Scott Tims. Some identifying names have been redacted.
“This writer attended a meeting with various leaders of campus health at 8 am to discuss an issue related to the XY office. Dr. Tims berated X of the Counseling Center and Y of Campus Health, both of whom were not present. Ms. Kirby reminded Dr. Tims that Y’s mother has just passed away. Dr. Tims acknowledged this fact nonverbally before stating in an aggressive tone that when Y returned to work, “things will be hard for him.” This writer was assigned to investigate X’s recollection of the events related to the infraction and to coordinate a work plan with HR for X. This writer felt distressed by the threatening comment made about Y by Dr. Tims.”
What degree of egregiousness would justify an AVP and leader of the largest Student Affairs department to make public threats on the nature of an individual’s working environment upon their return?
Someone who cares • Dec 6, 2021 at 8:43 am
If this story references what I think it does (and the timing is accurate), soon after “Y” returned to work following the loss of his mother, his position, which was essential in my view to the department’s functioning, was eliminated.
Former Student Affairs Employee • Dec 6, 2021 at 9:29 am
LOL this would NEVER happen. While Tims can get away with saying his Public Health degree is good enough for his current AVP role, the VPSA role is much more nuanced, and even he couldn’t fake his way through it. Not only that, but the entire Student Affairs staff would riot or quit. It’s hard to see that right now because Porter never actually does anything and is rarely found outside of his office (or rarely found on campus at all), but trust Scott will never become VPSA.
Parent • Dec 5, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Between this and the sexual assaults, I am glad my child is graduating this year. I’d expect a lot more for $75k/year
Alum and former staff • Dec 5, 2021 at 9:41 pm
I’d be glad too! For parents and funders reading all of this…you all are the ones who can really push for and demand change on behalf of students. As you can see, staff have zero power and hundreds of conversations with HR have led to nothing. Students aren’t getting what they need and it’s because of this administration. People don’t want to work there – at least in campus health. And New Orleans is a small town – where word spreads fast amongst providers and there are actually many other options in the industry where clinicians don’t have to put up with the hours, the low pay, and the abusive culture. It’s a shame because I have yet to encounter a healthcare professional who doesn’t love the students and wouldn’t go out of their way to help them.
This administration is moved to action only by deep pockets. I hope those with power will push for action.
TSSW Alumni • Dec 5, 2021 at 2:06 pm
It is heartening to read the outpouring of comments regarding the poor leadership of Tulane’s Campus Health Administration as led under Scott Tims. These heartfelt and shocking stories detail a hostile leadership within campus health and a hands-off attitude from the upper administration, despite numerous reports to HR during exit interviews and complaints filed concerning leadership. While these comments raise our voices, it would not be surprising if the Tulane administration ultimately ignores these concerns and carries on as business as usual. The only way to effect change is to cast a wider spotlight on this egregious behavior by reporting this behavior to entities outside of Tulane and those in leadership within Tulane. Below I provide a list of contacts for us to report the hostile work environment engendered by Scott Tims, Dusty Porter, Lillian Odera, Mike Strecker, Shannon Gabriel, and their enablers. I implore everyone here to reach out to these resources and register your complaints to make a true difference that will empower employees and improve student health outcomes!
Times Picayune Watchdog Tip Line
Phone: 504-826-3478
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
Mail: 365 Canal St. #3100, New Orleans, LA 70130
US Department of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
https://www.osha.gov
https://www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint
Louisiana Workforce Commission – Violations
https://www2.laworks.net/ViolationMenu.asp
Tulane Concern Reporting at Human Resources
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?TulaneUniv&layout_id=0
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?TulaneUniv&layout_id=0
https://hr.tulane.edu/institutional-equity/investigation-process
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health (AAAHC)
https://www.aaahc.org
https://www.aaahc.org/uploads/2021/03/Complaint-Concern-Form-_3.5.21.pdf
Board of Tulane
https://tulane.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/board-tulane
Phone: 504-865-5738
Email: [email protected]
President Michael Fitts
https://president.tulane.edu/office
Elizabet Brown (Chief of Staff of Board of the President)
[email protected]
Provost Robin Forman (Dusty Porter’s Direct Report)
[email protected]
Former emloyee • Dec 5, 2021 at 5:30 pm
Is it possible that accountability will actually occur? It’s like the church sex scandal. Tims is the offending priest and Porter is the Bishop who turned a blind eye and enabled the behavior that has harmed so many staff and in so doing the students who this dedicated staff serve. They both need to be held accountable and both should be fired. Fitts and Forman, it’s time to clean out the stable, which is ironic since CAPS used to be housed in the former Tulane stable. Do the right thing for the staff who were abused and the students who can’t access the services they so urgently need.
APP • Dec 4, 2021 at 8:14 pm
Smart, passionate, Tulane students! You have no idea what you’ve done with this article.
I know for many of us former staffers, this article has brought hope for possible change to a place that many of us believed was completely lost to dark forces. No matter what happens, please know that you’ve made a huge difference. Us former staffers have been texting and forwarding links to this article, overjoyed that some truth is coming out.
Please know, for every one who commented, I suspect there are five or more elsewhere, talking about this article with their friends and loved ones, feeling some degree of peace that others may not suffer like they have.
Thank you.
Anonymous former employee • Dec 4, 2021 at 3:16 pm
100 comments—so many stories from multiple eras, vantage points, none of it surprising. Is anything going to come of this for those who were pushed out? Is anything going to change for the people still putting up with it?
CAPS employee • Dec 5, 2021 at 5:51 pm
More than 100 comments. Unfortunately, Porter will dismiss them because they are anonymous. They are anonymous precisely because of the vindictive and retaliatory environment in Campus Health that Tims has created and Porter has allowed.
Former SA Employee • Dec 6, 2021 at 9:35 am
Just waiting for the expose on Porter, I’d be MORE than happy to share.
Formeremployee • Dec 6, 2021 at 11:15 am
This could have all been avoided if Porter had been reviewed before his contract was renewed.
Former Employee • Dec 4, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Please report this to the Department of Labor if you have not already. That is disturbing and I am sorry you had to go through that. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints
In Memory of Sharmaine Holloway • Dec 4, 2021 at 12:07 pm
I write this for Ms. Holloway because she is not here to tell her story,
Sharmaine Holloway an African American women and Administrative Program Coordinator to Campus Health was very sick, and Scott Tims watched this employee suffer at work and discouraged her from leaving work when she was obviously in so much pain because there was so much work to do. Scott would insinuate that Ms. Holloway would loose her job and health benefits if she took off work when she was sick. It was not until Ms. Holloway smell offended AVP Scott Tims that he sent her home stating “This is a Health Center we can’t have her walking around smelling up the place” Ms. Holloway had a condition that caused her to have an order. Ms. Sharmaine Holloway died a week later at home Scott Tims did not attend her funeral neither did Maeghan Livaccari. Campus Health went on as business as usual the day of her funeral. Scott Tims closes down the health center when he want to have a meeting but when and employee dies its business as usual. Scott is a well supported and protected monster without a conscience that lacks compassion, empathy, and is in my opinion a psychopath.
Staff Therapist • Dec 4, 2021 at 9:57 am
Lilian Odera is Scott Tims new puppet at the Counseling Center!
Former staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 10:33 pm
Scott’s pettiness, and thoughtful manipulation, knows no bounds. Despite being either two or three levels below him, depending on the organizational structure at the time, he always made sure to influence my annual review negatively. On multiple occasions, under different supervisors, I pushed back and questioned certain scores on my employee evaluation citing substandard work. Both supervisors acknowledged that Scott made them lower the scores despite their protests. Mind you, at that time I rarely worked with Scott directly and therefore my supervisors certainly knew my work better than he. I believe this not only was done just as a way to harass and embarrass me, but to also start building up official documentation in order to undermine people he suspected may complain in the future. Additionally, he had a general rule where he basically forbade giving scores above 3 (of 5) on these annual reviews because the idea of someone being more than simply sufficient enough to him didn’t really exist. At best we were tolerated, never celebrated.
Former Manager • Dec 4, 2021 at 4:52 am
I can corroborate that Scott Tims personally read the annual reviews of each employee and provided handwritten feedback to lower the scores until the scores were deflated to his satisfaction. This would take multiple back and forth submission and resubmission of evals until he would allow submission of the eval to HR. Most disappointing was the fact that Tims had little to no contact or interaction with the employees I supervised. No amount of advocating for employees would make any substantial difference in his decisions. It was demoralizing to my employees who worked diligently to care for our students only to be judged “adequate”. Tims regularly expressed disdain for employees during this process which was also demoralizing.
agree • Dec 4, 2021 at 7:46 am
This is a great point. I have never understood that policy. Why is it a scale between 1 to 5 if 4 and 5 can never be used? That’s stupid. Plenty of people do work that’s at the level of 4 or 5. I’ve talked to people in other departments, and it’s not like that in other departments, so you must be right and it’s a Scott thing.
Former Staff Therapist • Dec 5, 2021 at 1:27 am
This happens with other unethical employers too. 4-5 indicates higher performance and encourages pay increases. So they keep it at a 3 or lower to avoid that. Shame.
Former Staff • Dec 4, 2021 at 6:14 pm
I can also corroborate this. My supervisor told me that Scott made her change my review “because anything above a 3 is unheard of at campus health.” I had been there about 6 months and that was the day I knew I was never going to be valued as an employee and things only got worse from there.
Former SA Employee • Dec 6, 2021 at 9:36 am
I’m almost positive the “never give above a 3 rule” is Porter’s passed down to his subordinates.
Former staff • Dec 6, 2021 at 11:37 am
Perhaps, but this rule existed in Scott’s realm even in the years before Porter. Additionally, many colleagues in other departments in student affairs frequently report receiving 4s and 5s.
Mark Sylaj • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:00 pm
Disgusting, but not shocking. I noticed people getting away with their awful behaviors when i was a student there.
All these people including others like Erica Woodly are the worst of the worst.
Anonymous former employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:59 pm
At one Campus Health staff meeting, I believe it was fall of 2019, Scott gave an incredibly awkward presentation highlighting how wonderfully he had transformed Campus Health from its supposed former state of ruin. He spent an inordinate amount of time criticizing the past administration, which was totally unnecessary. The presentation took a particularly ableist, cruel turn, however, when he began to ridicule one of the former administrators for having dementia. He laughed and used this person as an example of poor management with the sole aim of making himself look like a hero or savior. All I could think about was this poor person who was having some kind of health crisis at the end of their career—and how their suffering had been reduced to this narcissistic person’s self-serving jokes. That was when I really understood that he did not see those around him as people, but as objects to use as he pleased. He recruited the rest of the administration in Campus Health to participate in berating and belittling employees (ie Deb England and Maeghan Livaccari) for violating arbitrary, imaginary “protocol” that had never been explained and was constantly changing. There was no semblance of collegiality from them, and operations seemed like a cruel game of “gotcha.” Every so often, a glossy, glorified vision board of a strategic plan was handed out, and none of the important items involving staff retention and engagement were ever heard of again. I kept waiting for someone to take note of the turnover in my department, and it only got worse with time. New hires brought in to fill vacancies came in rattled after being basically threatened by a lecture from stone-faced Deb England. What a welcome! Meanwhile, those who hung on to the sinking ship trying to keep things afloat were treated with more and more suspicion and distain. From the data that were shared, it seemed like we constantly had a budget surplus due to vacant positions, and the management structure was constantly being rearranged to reward favorites—all while people picking up the slack for the vacancies (and taking on the professional liability to our licenses) were denied any opportunity for growth. By the time I got the exit interview I pushed for, I was still really terrified of retaliation—for myself at my great new job and for the remaining employees—that I couldn’t bring myself to be completely honest, and the HR rep basically said nothing and seemed irritated with me for even being there anyway.
Former Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:17 pm
I was there in this meeting when Scott Tims made these jokes about his former boss. He presented this situation to us as if the person was just a bad boss with a bad memory. Not until this comment did I know the person he was making fun of had dementia.
Anonymous former employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:32 pm
I don’t know the person either, but it was Scott who said the person had dementia. As the punchline of a joke!
Former Tulane Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:53 pm
I too was there at this meeting and based on what Scott said, I suspected the person he was referencing did have dementia. All I could think was that if any family member heard Scott’s remarks, there would have been a lawsuit as this was truly a HIPAA violation! I was so mortified and appalled by Scott’s speech that I was in utter shock.
Mark Sylaj • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:49 pm
This is disgusting.
Im glad i didnt donate this year .
Former employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:48 pm
This travesty of a health care professional is also president of the American College Health Association. How would they feel knowing their president has been alleged to create this environment (which he did)
Former staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:25 pm
They are aware of the article and this robust comment thread. I encourage people to email their general email as well as the leadership board (emails can be found online) to reiterate the seriousness of the situation. I know I did.
Former Tulane Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 7:06 pm
If I were a Tulane parent spending $75,000 a year to send my child to this University, I would be appalled that my money is paying the salaries of Scott Tims, Shannon Gabriel, Dusty Porter and their handlers and enablers, as well as covering the needless cost and expense associated with rampant employee turnover due to Tims’ and Gabriel’s abusive management styles condoned by Porter, the Administration, and HR.
This is all in addition to the extremely large risk of litigation as a result of Tims’ harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, as well as the repeated failures of those in Administration and HR to address numerous employee complaints of what we suspect was illegal activity by Tims. Like some of the other commenters whom Scott put in positions that jeopardized their professional licenses, the same thing happened to me. After I reported my concerns to Administration, including Scott, I was retaliated against. Tims (and all those in Administration and HR who ignored repeated employee complaints of potentially illegal activity) is a walking lawsuit just waiting to happen, especially as it sounds from other commenters that he also made discriminatory gender- and age- based remarks in addition to the whistleblower retaliation that so many of us experienced for years.
In addition to being a potential legal nightmare, Tims was also just a plain nightmare of a human being. Here is an illuminating anecdote to give you an idea of Tims’ personality; I think it reveals just as much his “leadership” philosophy as it does about his venomous personality and outright cruelty:
At a staff meeting of the Student Health Center before Tims was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, certain people who volunteered to talk during an icebreaker session said what they were most proud of. Scott said he was most proud of a time when he purposefully made his own mother cry. Scott said that he told his mother that her favorite actress had died—which was a lie and which Scott knew was a lie—and that he only told his mother that the actress was still alive after she began crying. This is what Scott told a group of employees was his “proudest moment.” The implication was that Scott was proud that he was able to tell such a lie so convincingly that he mother believed him and wept.
As a former employee myself, I can say that I am so proud of all the employees that have demonstrated courage to speak up against the hostile and retaliatory work environment at Campus Health. Scott Tims and Shannon Gabriel are neither good people nor professional, effective managers. They demonstrated no compassion for the students or the employees.
The actions of Scott Tims and Shannon Gabriel—and others in Administration (Dusty Porter, etc.) and HR who enabled their abusive behavior—hurt employees and by extension, the students they served with such dedication.
Further, complaints to HR and Administration about Scott Tims and Shannon Gabriel fell on deaf ears. Administration and HR did nothing to stop the retaliation, intimidation, harassment and bullying of employees. HR and upper Administration’s complete failure to respond effectively to employee complaints enabled and allowed Tims’ systemic abuse to continue for years.
In addition to investigating Tims and Gabriel, some independent team should also investigate HR and Administration to determine exactly how many complaints were filed against these two and examine the turnover rate of employees since Scott’s leadership began at the Student Health Center and compare it to the previous 7-10 years. I suspect the findings will be shocking.
Former staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 7:58 pm
I recall that staff retreat well. Another take away from that retreat was, when asked “what are your greatest strengths”, he responded “I am a really good liar”. Why he thought this was clever or what a leader should respond will always baffle me but it reveals a lot about his values. Also, same day, he told me to “smile or people may start to wonder why you are so sad”. I was sad because I had to sit at a table with you at a retreat, Scott
just here for the comments • Dec 4, 2021 at 11:49 am
LMAO
Karma • Dec 3, 2021 at 4:09 pm
As a former employee of Campus Health who worked in the health center, I can attest that everything that has been said about Scott is, in fact, truth. In my over 4 years there, I watched many of my colleagues being forced out of the jobs they loved by an arrogant, evil, vindictive, retaliatory micro-manager. And that only got worse once he hired Shannon Gabriel who carried out his evil doings from the get go. Without even knowing anything about any of us, she came in busting balls, changing things, (and not for the better) bringing unjust corrective action against long term employees who were simply trying to do the job they had loved for so long, which was to take care of our students to the best of their abilities. I often wondered how she slept at night, coming in and treating people so poorly just because that is what Scott told her to do. The level of disrespect from Scott and Shannon for our doctors and nurses, and really all employees in general, was astounding! I watched so many amazing, dedicated, compassionate employees, doctors and nurses, leave simply because they just couldn’t work under Scott’s tyranny any longer. Some people even experienced health issues as a result of the stress of having to wonder if you were going to be the next one he pushed out of the door. By the time I was leaving, it had gotten so bad for me that I literally felt ill driving in to work in the mornings. I have never in my 30 years in the medical field EVER worked under someone who genuinely seems to hate people, especially medical professionals as much as Scott does. I truly hope that this article does make the powers that be stand up and take notice. This man has been allowed to bully hard working, dedicated employees for far too long.
Hold Them All Accountable • Dec 3, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Don’t forget Maeghan Livaccari. Before there was a Shannon there was a Maeghan who also treated the Campus Health Staff poorly. Working under him soured her to the people she worked with on a daily basis for years. I hope she has gone back to who she was before he sunk his claws in her.
Former staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 7:59 pm
It will forever break my heart that good people like Maeghan got wrapped up with people like Scott and manipulated and cornered into being an ally for him.
Former Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:40 pm
The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.
Albert Einstein
concerned former staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 11:34 am
Thoughts for the campus health staff that has been in a retreat with Scott this week and today. If history tells us anything, they are being subject to much abuse in the way of deflecting blame, belittling comments, and horribly insincere attempts at demonstrating compassion. For those there, I hope you feel comfortable sharing what it’s been like.
Former Counseling Center Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 10:23 am
Very grateful and hopeful that the truth may finally come out…and that Tulane students and employees can experience the change they deserve. Tulane’s Counseling Center under Donna Bender’s leadership was the most horrifying place I’ve ever worked in my career, all condoned by Tims. The center did not follow any of the standard procedures that I have seen followed at the other university counseling centers at which I’ve worked in critical areas, like suicide response. Any employee who questioned the unethical practices or challenged the status quo were silenced or removed from their positions. Good professionals were harmed by trying to do right by the students.
N/A • Dec 3, 2021 at 10:09 am
I can’t say how happy I am to read this
Former Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:13 am
10 years ago I promised myself my children would never attend Tulane University. I briefly worked at the wellness center at Tulane – it didn’t take me long to realize the bullying, abusive culture wasn’t for me. I was worried about the undergraduate and graduate students who were exposed to Tims’ bullying and I went to Tulane HR with my concerns (all documented with supporting evidence). I was quickly told that the HR department could not investigate my claims because HR was “only a 4 person team for all the various entities around the state”. I was shocked and horrified but I felt lucky as I had been in the workforce for about 12-14 years and I knew the culture was not normal. A lot of the professional employees and student employees didn’t know any better; they thought it was normal to be yelled at in meetings or for supervisors to speak poorly behind everyone’s back. I quickly left and promised myself that my children would NEVER set foot on Tulane’s campus as a student. Ten years later, I am still sticking to my promise. I want to say thank you to Judd and Choy for bravely exposing this horror that has lasted too long. I see bright futures in journalism for Goswami and Sanchez – great article.
Former Insurance and Revenue Manager at Campus Health • Dec 3, 2021 at 7:08 am
Thank you for exposing the truth about Scott Tim and the toxic environment he creates at Campus Health. I worked under Scott’s leadership at Campus Health for a little over 2 years. In my opinion Scott Tim is a protected narcissistic bully. I was only in Management at Tulane Campus Health for 18 months the shortest job time I have ever held in my 30-year career. I was not fired, never written up and I felt with no disciplinary issues at all. So, to be very clear I am not a disgruntled employee. Campus Health laid off the Billing Team in November of 2020, but the layoff came less than 30 days after HR completed their investigation of allegations we made against Scott Tim of unfair treatment, racial discrimination, and abusive behavior. Of course, Human Resource made me and the other 5-7 people at Campus Health that complained feel devalued. Human Resources made excuses for everything Scott had done, and this was before the investigation had begun after the investigation Scott was found having done not wrong. In my opinion Campus Health Employees are in a toxic, abusive relationship with their leadership under Scott Tim’s. In my experience anyone that challenges the toxic environment at Campus Health is pushed out. Scott does not have the student’s best interest in mind and has lost contacts that would increase Tulane’s student accesses to care. For example, the Pharmacy Contract that was lost in 2020-2021 which would have allowed our students the ability to bypass having to get and authorization for Top Tier medication. My breaking point for me was when I was asked to bill insurance claims illegally to change codes to reflect higher reimbursement. Scott Tim’s hired a Finance Director name Brian Barbier that under Scott’s directive asked me and the billing team to bill insurance claims to get paid the highest reimbursement, change CPT Codes without consulting the Doctors and to do whatever it took to get paid. I had to take this to The Compliance Officer because my voice and the voice of my team was not heard. Director Brian Barbier was fired but Scott Tim went untouched. Again thank you for writing this article and please stay on top of investigating the abuse that the Campus Health workers have to endure under Scott Tim’s Narcissistic, Abusive, Degrading behavior.
I Stand With Tulane Campus Health Staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:39 am
The contract was lost in 2018 when Pharmacy went from Ledger Billing to Electronic Billing in hopes that the Pharmacy would gain more money. There was a consultant called in but even when hiring a consultant ultimately it was his decision despite the Pharmacy Leadership team (at the time of negotiations) explaining this was not in the best interest of the Pharmacy or Students.
With Ledger Billing medications did not need to go through Prior Authorizations with the insurance company– which can take days and weeks to process. Any medication a student was prescribed was filled for them immediately- never being denied if purchased at the Campus Health Pharmacy. Going with electronic billing created a road block to Patient Care.
The Ledger Billing contract ensured Pharmacy would make approximately a million dollars annually. However Scott hoped that he could bring more revenue in by moving to Electronic Billing. There is nothing wrong about ambition but he should have done his own research instead of taking the word of someone who said they were a consultant. The consultant he hired couldn’t have been an expert in Pharmacy Billing because they would have explained that reimbursement for medications through electronic billing has been on the decline for years and Ledger Billing could foreseeably bring in more Money. He could have done his own research and found out that Electronic Billing would be detrimental to patient care and the Pharmacy’s bottom line. He could have listened to the pharmacist who committed years to Tulane Campus Health and the Student Body.
He could have done a lot of things. In fact he did a lot of things which is why Campus Health as a whole is suffering. Instead of being a leader and taking responsibility for poor business decisions he made he chose to point fingers, place blame and deflect.
Campus Health deserves better, the Staff deserves better but ultimately the Tulane Student Body deserves better. Former Insurance and Revenue Manager at Campus Health, I hope you have found better wherever you are working now because no one deserves to be bully, intimidated, belittled and ask to do things that would compromise their license and integrity.
Tulane let’s do better
Alum and former staff • Dec 3, 2021 at 6:49 am
As an alum and former staff member this is deeply saddening to me. The upper administration is filled with corrupt old white men who collect huge salaries and do nothing but protect each other from any kind of real oversight or accountability. The majority of staff are working their butts off for students because they love the kids and care deeply about the community on campus. Nothing is going to change until people like Dusty Porter and Scott Tims step down or get removed. If the university takes no action, the students should protest. The upper admin only care about the money so that means students and parents have to demand change for it to actually happen. Staff’s voices mean nothing—they’ll just be fired.
Tulane alum • Dec 3, 2021 at 6:32 am
When I was a freshman at Tulane, I once walked into the CAPS office with visible self-harm injuries and was told that the next available appointment was over a month from that day. This wasn’t the fault of the counselors; they weren’t handling the scheduling in the front office, this was the fault of an overburdened care system that didn’t have enough staff to meet the needs of its students.
Alumni • Dec 3, 2021 at 12:30 pm
I am so sorry this happened to you. I’ve heard too many stories like this.
Advocate • Dec 3, 2021 at 4:40 am
Thank you for all your comments and testimonials. They are important and brave. Please consider making your statements official (cut and paste!), either anonymously or not, in any of the following formats.
For example, AAAHC is the accreditation organization for Campus Health. Complaints to the equivalent organization for Tulane Med School are what led to actual changes in processes and transparency. Hopefully this will contribute to real progress.
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health (AAAHC)
https://www.aaahc.org
https://www.aaahc.org/uploads/2021/03/Complaint-Concern-Form-_3.5.21.pdf
United States Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
https://www.osha.gov
https://www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint
Tulane HR and IE
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?TulaneUniv&layout_id=0
https://hr.tulane.edu/institutional-equity/investigation-process
Hullabaloo
“If you are a current Campus Health employee and wish to share your experience anonymously, please email us at [email protected].”
Dusty Porter, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life
Garden Level Room G03
[email protected]
(504) 314-2188
Thomas • Dec 3, 2021 at 2:54 am
Mr. Tims has a PhD in health education via correspondence course work. Take that as you will. He has a history of firing long-term employees without merit. My colleague was fired after 20 years of dedicated service.
Hullabalooisagem • Dec 3, 2021 at 1:11 am
Thank you for shedding light on the fear-based culture that Scott Tims created for the mental health professionals at the Counseling Center. As a therapist, I hear that the staff who left know what a healthy work environment is and how to prevent burnout. Therapist is not just a job, it’s a career. Counseling sessions are not tasks, they are interventions.
It takes courage to let go of things we love even when we know they cause harm. The leadership, Odera, Tims and Porter, are compromising the quality of mental health services when students need it the most because of their inept leadership.
Former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:42 pm
Having worked with scott Tim’s and spoken with dozens of colleagues who have left due to his bullying, intimidation, and vindictiveness I can affirm that everything in this article is true. Scott Tims should be fired and so should Porter who has condoned this behavior and enabled it for years. Our students have suffered.
Hullabalooisarag • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:35 pm
This article is poorly written and sourced from former disgruntled employees. This is nola.com level of click bait. All these tormented privileged ass Doctors complaining about a toxic work environment? Honestly, go f!@$ yourselves. How about the work environment for Sodexo workers? Adjunct professors? All of us who don’t have the opportunity to just quit when we feel stressed out during a pandemic. Also, as counselors, shouldn’t yall be, I don’t know, more resilient and less prone to “ptsd” because you had a hard day at work. Adjuncts haven had a pay raise in 10 years. Where’s the story on that? Sodexo workers get paid nothing and get started waiting for the Feret bus, which arrives less frequently as the city cuts routes for poor and black people. Not to worry the streetcar is still running for the tourists. Where’s the story on that? These therapists left when things got hard. Because there has been a PANDEMIC! Its been hard for ALL OF US! God forbid they actually had to work. They decided to jump ship to make 6 figures someplace where they work 5 hour days. So, I think maybe in a world filled with genocide, boiling oceans, and a worldwide pandemic, we should maybe just… not give a damn if a bunch of entitled bourgeoisie decided they wanted to change jobs. Life sucks. It’s pointless. The future is bleak. Grow up. If these “poor” employees actually cared about these students they would have stayed instead of abandoning them because they felt like thier boss was mean.
Anonymous • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:44 pm
…are you okay, Dr. Tims?
Hullabalooisarag • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:20 pm
I doubt he cares much about the plight of Sodexo workers or adjuncts. Nobody seems to care. That’s my point. Also, this is a poorly written article. It’s a gossip piece. Also the rather casual use of terms like “ptsd” by mental health professionals to describe a bad day at work is distressing. Anyway, you can tell journalism is not one of Tulanes assets.
Anonymous • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Then go write your own article and stop whining and complaining. Maybe educate yourself while you are at it.
Guessing you don’t work for Sodexo • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:22 pm
If you are a Tulane faculty member who may be struggling with your professorship not being boujee enough, perhaps one of the number of highly qualified and devoted counselors/therapists that have apparently been pouring out into the community from Campus Health, for the past decade, might sit with and listen to you about some of this??
Hullabalooisarag • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:01 pm
Adjunct faculty don’t get health insurance, so even they did want to talk to one of these awesome counselors they wouldn’t be able to. Wait… is health insurance, maternity leave, and a living wage “boujee”? And Sodexo workers aren’t ALLOWED to access the health center. We don’t want the students to feel uncomfortable sitting next to the person that cleaned thier table as they wait to get thier script filled.
Guessing you don’t work for Sodexo • Dec 3, 2021 at 12:06 am
Professor,
I do feel your insurance plight: I don’t have health insurance either… and, now, neither do so many of the other workers who had to leave their jobs at Campus Health for all the misery there… but they were just being dramatic, right?
Maybe one of these therapists that you have so much judgment and disdain for (who aren’t all as privileged as you’re assuming) might work out some sort of a deal with you? Maybe you can work out your stuff without being such a hater to people who might not be having it much better than you right now.
If you want your story told, maybe you might talk to the reporters and journalists instead of trolling and trashing them.
& Please stop trying to front like you work for Sodexo, clean anybody’s table there, wait for the Freret bus in the mornings, or speak for anybody who does.
I hope your students are ok & hope you will be too.
Hullabalooisarag • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:37 am
Why do you assume I don’t work for Sodexo? Or that I don’t take the bus?
Faculty • Dec 3, 2021 at 11:57 am
It’s pretty obvious that you don’t ride the Freret bus because you speak about it like it’s something to be ashamed of. I used to ride the Freret bus to work…should I be ashamed of that? Now I ride the streetcar, and I’m definitely not a tourist btw. Nor are any of the other workers riding along with me in the mornings. You sound ignorant and, frankly, white and bourgeoisie.
Alumni from School of Social Work • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:03 pm
When the CAPS staff moved buildings in 2019, they circulated a petition to bring the Sodexo workers who worked in their building with them to the new location. Because they were an essential part of the team. The administration denied it. To imply that people who have had a negative and traumatic work experience don’t care about Sodexo workers or adjunct professors is short-cited and irrelevant. You need a different article. You should write it. And also most clinicians are social workers or LPCs. Are you shaming social workers? Really?
Tulane Worker • Dec 3, 2021 at 8:56 am
This person is arguing as if they care about workers but clearly has no class analysis or class solidarity. They are pitting workers against each other who share common grievances- clearly they don’t actually care about workers cause otherwise they would know better. For anyone who is interested is actually organizing for better conditions, all workers on campus can join AFT Academics- a union for staff, adjunct faculty, grad workers and student workers. Sodexo workers- due to being under a separate private employer, have different union representation options but regardless of the union all workers can and should support each other- we are not each other’s enemies. The Board of Directors and the Admin are the ones keeping wages suppressed and working conditions so bad. https://aftacademics.org/
Tulane Alum 2014 • Dec 3, 2021 at 10:30 am
Tulane alum and current dietetic student here!
Okay, before you go off on a tirade about Sodexo workers not being paid a fair wage (which I frankly agree with), a couple of key points: 1) Tulane has a contract with Sodexo, and Sodexo’s wages are decided by the company/the aforementioned contract. Sodexo is notorious for paying their dietitians poorly, so I can only imagine the same goes for their food service staffers, and any wage discrepancies is the fault of Sodexo’s more so than Tulane. While Tulane would be better served outsourcing food-service to a different contract company that provides better wages for its employees, depending on the contract with Sodexo, Tulane is very well locked into a contract with them and can’t break it or change wages until the terms of the contract have been fulfilled.
Also, your second point about the therapists being paid a “bougie” six figures is laughable – if you didn’t know anything about food service and how food contracts work, then you know even less about how well LCSW and LSW are paid. The median income for an LCSW is approx. $70k per year in the state of Louisiana, and the education required includes two-full years interning under a current LCSW; from my understanding, paid internships are rare, so you’re expected to work two years FOR FREE after graduating with a masters degree before you can make your starting salary. I don’t know what your definition of bougie is, but to me, that seems like a LOT of work and effort for someone who is just in it “for the money,” which is what you’re implying. And to be frank, LCSW’s SHOULD be paid six figures because much like a nurse, MD, PA, or anyone else in the health sphere who is paid commensurate to their education, LCSW’s take their work home with them. They literally have their patients’ mental health and wellbeing in their hands, and even for the most resilient among us, that DOES take a toll on you when you’re dealing with patient after patient that is struggling. It is naive and callous for you to write off their valid feelings of workplace abuse by telling them they need to “suck it up.”
paulette perrien • Dec 3, 2021 at 12:22 pm
Hi- Hullabalooisarag- Re: Your response: Poorly written? — Super good reporting – 74 responses and counting- glass raised.
Current Grad Student • Dec 8, 2021 at 12:45 pm
All of your complaints are valid and many more articles need to deep dive like this one into the many problems at Tulane. But this article is about more than just the staff at the counseling center experiencing a toxic work environment. It involves the livelihood of the students at the school that need mental healthcare or emotional support, and the disregard Tulane is exhibiting in the seriousness of the matter.
Current Employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:31 pm
The most appropriate course of action here would be an internal review completed by a third party entity. Clearly the senior administration and HR department have lost all credibility in this situation and consistently failed to protect Campus Health staff when repeatedly notified about the abusive work environment under Dr. Tims and his leadership team. It is common knowledge amongst Campus Health staff that we are miserable, work in fear, and feel constantly micro-managed, surveilled, and punished.
Dr. Porter, it’s your duty to intervene. Ask current and past employees about their experiences. It is rare to find a coworker who feels valued or safe in our work environment.
Former Employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:43 pm
How could Dr. Porter be trusted to do a damn thing after his behavior in that this article lays out? He needs to be gone too. He is condoning this abuse and has made it clear time and time again he is not going to be the one to fix it as he doesn’t think there is anything to fix. For years, Dr. Porter has made it clear he has never cared about anything beyond saving face.
Hullabalooisarag • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:41 pm
Work in fear? Of what? Are they beating you? Rather dramatic and provocative language no?
Former employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 7:45 am
I was at that Jan meeting and something not totally clear in the article was that Scott baselessly accused us of illegal and unethical things, including payroll fraud and abandoning clients. He claimed to have evidence, although he produced none. But I wouldn’t put it past him to fabricate evidence. So yeah, we experienced fear of being fired, losing our licenses to practice therapy (and therefore our livelihoods), and even being charged with a crime. He also showed up at our office the next day smiling and being friendly like he hadn’t just threatened and yelled at us. Which was terrifying in the sense that we felt he had to be totally unhinged and had no idea how he would behave next. Which is exactly how abusers act, btw. So sorry if fear is too “dramatic” a word for you, but that’s what we felt.
And btw, I agree with you that the Sodexo workers and adjuncts are paid and treated is wrong. More than one thing can be bad though. Saying Scott’s behavior isn’t a problem because other workers are underpaid is flawed logic.
Anonymous former CAPS therapist • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:38 pm
So much respect to the clinicians and staffers speaking up here. And much appreciation to the student reporters and people who’ve worked to understand and expose these issues.
As a former Tulane CAPS staff therapist (resigned Fall 2019), I know that these problems with the culture and practices within Campus Health most certainly preceded the emergence of the pandemic. Leadership there, top-down, has long sponsored and participated in the abuse and silencing of staff… for years. They actively punished, & even fired, people who spoke up or talked to Human Resources about their concerns and disregarded the significance and impacts of the resulting long-time escalating high turnover. Hands down, the most toxic work-environment I have ever witnessed or experienced.
It’s just so terrible that the impacts of all the negativity have come to so severely affect the students.
TU students: I hope you know that, behind the scenes, for a long time, so many of your therapists, counselors, and patient representatives have advocated, worked tirelessly, and fought to try to give you the best care possible.
Scott Tims: I hope you know that this reckoning, for you, is beyond deserved and it’s been a long time coming. You have used your position and power at the university to harm the careers and lives of so many people… most significantly, the students. Shame on you.
worried employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:23 pm
After reading this article and all of the comments here, I can’t help but feel a bit cynical. I applaud the Hullabaloo staff for writing this article, but is anything going to change? Scott Tims must have powerful friends in really high places, otherwise he would have been fired a long, long time ago. Is he basically untouchable?
Mike Fitts Doesn’t Care About Tulane Students • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Don’t let the door hit ya where God split ya, Tims and Odera. And maybe take the rest of admin with you…
Current Medical Student • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:17 pm
As a former patient of Ryan Judd, I want to commend him on the excellent care he provided. I began seeing him in early 2021. He was kind, caring, and so well-qualified in the face of what is clearly a difficult and unsupportive working environment. As the article states, our sessions ended abruptly, but not without Ryan reaching out through email and another staff therapist to give his sincerest apologies for not being able to meet again.
Former TUPHE Leadership • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:09 pm
Scott Tims doesn’t care about students or his staff – he only cares about *seeming* like he does. Nothing will ever change with him in a position of power. I used to feel ill when called to meet with him while on TUPHE leadership because I just knew he would belittle and deny us and our peers the resources we desperately needed. On the off chance that Scott is reading this (he’s not tho bc he doesn’t care :)))))), I hope you find a way to listen to others and recognize that your time is up on that campus and in that profession. You’ve been exposed for the kind of human you are. You lack basic empathy for others, fundamental communication skills, and any semblance of patience – all critical to the caring professions. I hope you walk off Tulane’s campus with your tail between your legs like the sad man you are.
Former Campus Health Employee & Alum • Dec 2, 2021 at 7:56 pm
Scott Tims is the least supportive administrator I’ve ever had the misfortunate of interacting with. He pushes out people who work hard and love what they do by continually taking credit for their successes and absolutely railing against them when they fail. For a department that has been working on tackling toxic masculinity to be run by Scott is a JOKE. The fact that he is still in charge and still underperforming and blaming his dedicated employees makes me feel sick. I’ve had the privilege of forgetting he existed for the past 3 years but now I find myself as angry as ever, reminded of the abuses that myself and my awesome colleagues experienced due to Scott’s negligence and inability to lead. Scott I hope you’re reading these comments and I hope they make you feel as small as you make others feel. You’re garbage and it’s time to Tulane to take out the trash.
Former Student Employee at The Well • Dec 2, 2021 at 7:48 pm
This is a reckoning that has been a long time coming. This behavior goes back years. As a former student employee of The Well under Campus Health, we watched Scott Tims abuse and mistreat staff for years. Like the TEMS commenter said, for TUPHEs too, he made absolutely everything we did harder, destroyed the morale many of us had for something that we had previously loved doing, and drastically changed our program for the worst. The staff that were driven out of The Well by his behavior were some of the most competent, talented, brilliant, and caring people I have ever met. Thank you to the brave staff who came forward both in this article and in the comments.
Tulane grad student • Dec 2, 2021 at 6:16 pm
Thank you for publishing this. I have been going to CAPS since I was in undergrad at Tulane and I cannot emphasize how incredible of a resource it has been to me, until my therapist had to resign this past fall. I can only hope this will lead to better treatment and pay for these extremely hard working staff.
Alum and former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 5:47 pm
As a Tulane alum and former campus health student employee in the Well (a division of campus health) that is intimately aware of the innerworkings of campus health, I can attest to the gross mistreatment of staff. Scott Tims is notorious for taking credit for others work and using favoritism and perceived allegiance to guide decision-making. These practices then trickled down and were replicated by the various directors of campus health, creating an utterly abusive working environment. There is a reason why campus health has a revolving door of staff turnover and it is truly a disgrace and disservice. The people who come to work for campus health are genuinely so passionate about helping students and are willing to take a pay-cut relative to what they could make elsewhere, however are met with a lack of resources and unnecessary and hostile bureaucracy. The staff that I know who are remaining are there because they feel guilty about abandoning students but know that they can only go so much longer without MAJOR changes. Campus health needs to restructure and simply firing Scott Tims and replacing him with a member of the senior leadership team will not change anything.
Former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 5:40 pm
Can the hullabaloo also post this story on your Facebook and other social media pages? I don’t see it there yet though could have overlooked it.
Anonymous • Dec 2, 2021 at 3:22 pm
Scott Time is the president of the American College Health Association this year.
https://www.acha.org/ACHA/About/Board_Bios.aspx
Ms Concerned • Dec 2, 2021 at 4:12 pm
So sad
Margaret Reynolds • Dec 2, 2021 at 3:11 pm
I am another former staff member. I left The Well (in Campus Health) in Feb. 2021 because of the atmosphere. The early pandemic coldness shocked me. As a previous commenter said, we were told that if we couldn’t handle “our situation” (our kids), then maybe healthcare wasn’t the right career for us.
I think parents across Student Affairs felt scared, hurt, angry, and confused. Eventually, I started to think about the possibility of unionizing. In retrospect, I wish I had worked harder to do so. It was a trying time and some leadership and direction may have felt like a relief to exhausted staff members.
Previous to Campus Health, I worked in CMVSS. CMVSS was empowering, and the people were kind. It was a great job. We all worked hard, and we worked together. In comparison, Campus Health was systemically unhealthy, even pre-pandemic. On an individual level, staff across the board was really great, but as a unit… what a hurtful mess it ended up being for so many.
I was lucky that I was left mostly to my own devices on the Downtown Campus, but the things I witnessed and heard about were pretty shocking. It’s been a hugely stressful time for leadership and staff. It’s heartbreaking how traumatic this became for all. I sincerely hope this exposure helps leadership on create a healthier environment for themselves and their teams.
Ms Concerned • Dec 2, 2021 at 2:44 pm
This article is very disheartening, because a lot of this could have been avoided. HR wouldn’t listen or just didn’t care, because the Student Health Center is toxic under the leadership of Scott. Months into working there I found myself in the middle of meetings about racial discrimination, employee divide and lack of leadership. I would sit on the bench outside the SHC and read a book or eat lunch and days later the bench was gone and the response was, Scott said to have it removed”, then we would sit on the benches in front the SHC, Scott put an email out that we couldn’t sit there, he removed the table from the break room, so where were we told to eat, on the side of the SHC, with the ants everywhere and birds lingering over your food. Scott decided he was the authority and everyone better abide. No one would listen and the discrimination, I am the Chief and out right arrogance was allowed. We had no one to turn to, because our HR Rep Ms Valle was no help, because she justified everything that was going on. In the end the students are being unattended to and the employees are miserable. Will the University and HR now stand up and protect your employees and students from the wrath of Scott, Dusty, Shannon and others……
Former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:30 pm
The bench example highlights how Scott viewed employees- as burdens, not assets. Around that same time I sat in a meeting with Scott and Dr Garrett, the medical director at the time (surprise, he was later pushed out by Scott). Scott suggested that they get rid of the staff kitchen because he was tired of there being a mess in there. There are over 40 employees in the building and they all share one 10×15 kitchen with one fridge, two microwaves, and a four top table. When Dr Garrett asked where employees should store their lunch, heat up, eat, etc. Scott simply shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care if they ate or not. It was one of the few times I ever saw Dr Garrett get flustered. It’s a toss up whether Scott is a worse boss or person.
former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Dr. Garrett is one of the nicest, most pleasant people ever. I adored him. It was such a tragedy that he got pushed out by Scott Tims. He didn’t deserve that. I hope Dr. Garrett is happy in his new job because he deserves all the happiness.
Tulane staff member • Dec 2, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Tulane’s administration shows little to no care for staff members who are on the front lines working directly to support students. Though the student body is larger than ever before, staffing levels are stagnant at best and most offices have seen a very high rate of staff turnover. Administrators and department heads who are beloved like Donna Bender was are run out of town consistently. Tulane would be well positioned to ensure that staff’s voices are welcomed, heard and responded to when it comes to administration/leadership effectiveness and job satisfaction overall. As a staff member myself, I can assure you, we are all at a breaking point and are all looking for other jobs outside of this institution despite our love for our students.
Current Staff • Dec 4, 2021 at 5:33 pm
YES! As a current staff member (and alumna) this is a microscope on one area of the university (and admittedly the most toxic) that represents the overall culture Tulane has of who has power and who does not.
I’m a student-facing staff member, I love what I do, I love working with students… but the high level admin don’t give a sh*t. We’re unsupported, underpaid, and the first to get blamed when something goes wrong, even when it isn’t our fault.
High level admin don’t care and don’t *want* to care; they just want accolades and to present the image that Tulane has happy, well-resourced students. If you create burnout culture, there is no continuity in students’ lives, and no reason for staff to stick around when they get treated the way they do.
I want to get the time to know students and do the best I can at my job, but I’m so overworked and exhausted every day I get home and just crawl into bed. I’m browsing job listings every day because of the ADMIN not because I dislike my job.
Be nice to staff members; we’re tired of the institution, too.
Mad and Concerned • Dec 2, 2021 at 1:44 pm
This article should be a huge wake up call. It shouldn’t be the job of those most impacted to have to change the culture, but here we are.
If you are interested in learning about how mental health is an equity issue and connecting with other passionate students to explore organizing around disability justice, please attend these upcoming dialogues/workshops. They are a space to build community, share stories and develop an analysis around systemic ableism and its intersections with other forms of oppression.
Graduate Student session Sunday, Dec 5th, 5-7pm: https://tulane.campuslabs.com/engage/event/7615512
Undergraduate Student session Sunday, Dec 12th, 5-7pm
https://tulane.campuslabs.com/engage/event/7615512
Former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Scott Tims should have been fired long ago. In 2013 he gave female employees at The Well uti and pregnancy tests as a joke for Christmas. This gender based harassment has no place in the modern workspace. I considered reporting at the time and am sorry I did not. Tims time and time again failed at leadership, threw employees under the bus, and constantly undercut everyone. He never once took responsibility for his actions or acknowledged shortcomings. He conflated being a jerk with having high standards. He needs to go.
Former employee • Dec 2, 2021 at 8:19 pm
In another example of inappropriate behavior, he once told his executive assistant “you’re approaching 40, you really should lay off the sweets”.
Perhaps the worst thing about these anecdotes is that they are far from the worst things about who he was or how he led.
Anonymous • Dec 2, 2021 at 1:14 pm
100% true. Not covered was the staff meeting held during the first days of the pandemic in 2020. We were, like everyone, scared and bewildered. We got a lecture via zoom from ST with a tone I can only describe as accusatory and threatening. I will never forget a couple choice quotes—one being that Campus Health and Tulane are “not responsible for our childcare” and that we better make arrangements for our kids (umm thanks for that nasty reminder that we are left in the cold), the other being that “some of [us] might decide we don’t want to work in healthcare anymore” if we aren’t able to accept the “risk tolerance” being asked of us—which included needlessly showing up to work in person for jobs that could easily be done remotely and were being done remotely at peer institutions and top medical facilities everywhere. Singling out parents, shaming terrified people who had vulnerable family members at home, and suggesting that we might not be fit for our life’s work—and at a time like that!? So demoralizing.
Former staff • Dec 2, 2021 at 2:38 pm
I believe the direct quote was, “If you have children at home, that is NOT our problem.” For months I asked why I had to show up in person during a pandemic to stay in my office with the door closed and on zoom. It made no sense, and there were no answers. Mostly because there was no way to even ask the questions. One of our former colleagues, who is a brilliant psychologist and was such an asset, left Tulane and took a job as a staff psychologist at Princeton…and worked from home.
Former Employee • Dec 7, 2021 at 11:33 am
This is awful to hear. Living through a pandemic and trying to navigate March and April 2020 made so many employers, supervisors and leaders more compassionate people and brought to light how hard it is to be a working parent. Most of my friends and colleagues couldn’t brag enough about how awesome and supportive their employers were during this time. To hear that Campus Health turned a blind eye and that Tims was untouched by the fragility of life during a pandemic is so awful yet unsurprising. There were stay at home orders in place and to think he made staff come in to sit in their offices with their doors closed? Staff that then had to find childcare (and thus asking them to ignore the stay at home orders)! How many COVID deaths did Tims personally contribute to? It sounds like Tulane leadership closed their eyes on Campus Health– they should be so ashamed to have allowed stay at home orders to have been ignored.
Former Staff Member • Dec 2, 2021 at 12:39 pm
If the Tulane administration is wondering why this is happening and pointing fingers, I’d encourage them to pick up the “mirror” and not the “magnifying glass” for a change. This is happening right now because the administration chose NOT to listen to staff members’ concerns, created and maintained a hostile working environment where feedback and questions were not welcome, and because HR failed to do their job. HR has heard dozens of exit interviews over the years (and the last 8 months in particular) in which there is a clear theme and clear pattern. Yet nothing. It took a handful of students to listen and take action when these adult professionals demonstrated callous disregard for the well-being of the staff who are charged with caring for students and I won’t be shocked when they still refuse to take any responsibility. I’m just waiting to hear about the retaliation that current staff will face.
Former Employee • Dec 3, 2021 at 5:20 am
Exit Interviews- most of us who worked in the Campus Health Center weren’t granted the opportunity to do an exit interview even when we requested them. I would be surprised if our counterparts at CAPS were able to do so but if they did I am glad they were able to speak up.
Alumnus • Dec 2, 2021 at 12:28 pm
Campus Health’s mission is to care for the students, first and foremost. When administration takes the view of running the center as a business instead of a service, then you get this outcome. Annual turnover at Campus Health is abysmal, and HR does nothing about it. Staff is hired, trained, abused, mistreated, and then leave because of the hostile environment. The constant turnover reduces the ability to fully care for and support the students – the mission of Campus Health. Dr. Dusty Porter, Michael S. Tims, HR, and Tulane Administration should be held accountable. Students are suffering because administration looks at student care as a business and not a service to provide support. Students should band together and demand better from this University.
Alumnus • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:51 am
This is a devastating article. President Fitts needs to investigate and call for an independent review.
Concerned alumnus • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:41 am
Wow!! At a time when student mental health is at its worst (pandemic etc), this is how Tulane manages its medical staff??
This sounds not very surprising when you have a non-physician in charge of all patient care. Sounds like Scott Timms is micro managing clinical professionals with no clue, and they are leaving.
Can anyone explain why the person in charge of campus health making major decisions about patient care is…NOT actually a physician? Tulane, what are you thinking??
Tulane Junior • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:31 am
This article left me infuriated and nauseous. Everyone I knew in campus health (including Ms. Belinda) seems to have resigned, and I am so sorry that they had to suffer through such abusive management. A caseload of 36 is preposterous, and asking clinicians to reduce their time with clients is so ridiculous I can’t even fathom how it was seriously suggested. When my counselor resigned, I luckily had the money and parental approval to switch to a non-Tulane therapist, but significant quantities of students cannot say the same.
The fact we have 7 working clinicians and 105 full-time TUPD officers makes no sense. The art department easels are falling apart while the athletic department gets a new building.
Tulane MUST:
1. Be more transparent with their budget; we are the ones paying
2. SIGNIFICANTLY increase Campus Health funding
3. Fire and replace the abusive management identified in this article
4. Figure out who permitted this situation to happen and continue, and bring disciplinary action against them
5. Apologize to and compensate those employees who suffered unjustly
And Tulane should do all of this before they get more student blood on their hands.
current student • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:24 am
Amidst a period of time during which I was having suicidal thoughts I figured it was finally time to see someone. I went to my initial CAPS consultation to get help and was referred to off campus offices with no follow up. The co-pays were tremendous and I don’t own a car to get to the offices all of which I explained and I was still turned away. Now I understand why.
Tracy • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:02 am
As a former employee that did referrals l was constantly micromanaged by Shannon Gabriel, Director of Nursing. If you didn’t do as told you were retaliated against. I left because of the retaliation and favoritism by Scott Tims and Shannon Gabriel. I did my job well and efficiently and made sure the students referrals were handled in a timely manner and if needed got appointments the same day if needed. Because I voiced my opinion one day Shannon saw fit to pull me from doing referrals to other duties, but as I told her, “You are hurting the students and not me”. If they would look at my stats when doing referrals the students were well taken care of. I loved my job, but not the politics and wrath of Scott Tims because a lot of the staff was scared of him, so sad
Current Student • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:57 am
This article is how I found out my psychiatrist quit- I had received no notice and my last appointment had mysteriously disappeared. I have medication that I needs refills and Tulane administration and Campus Health have no warning or anything that I will be needing to find a new prescriber. Clearly Tulane administration needs a massive overhaul.
Nurse Betty • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:59 am
Not one lie told. As a former employee of campus health, this place is dysfunctional under Tims. He definitely should resign along with Porter and Garbriel.
Alumnus • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:47 am
It sounds like Scott Tims is a terrible supervisor. Machiavellianism is not an effective management strategy! I’m curious how his abysmal leadership has affected other divisions at Campus Health.
Alumni • Dec 2, 2021 at 7:35 am
Scott Tims caused nothing but issues during my time at Tulane. As a former member of TEMS, we had to deal with him on a frequent basis. He constantly made our lives 10x harder, often making decisions that negatively impacted the student body and our ability to better care for students. He acted like a dictator when it came to decisions and contributed to a toxic culture in Campus Health, resulting in the former medical director of TEMS resigning. An MD should be running Campus Health, not an egomaniac with a PhD.
Current Student • Dec 2, 2021 at 2:06 am
Not just the Counseling Center. As an employee in another division of Campus Health, this micromanagement and unsafe working environment is present throughout the department. Students and staff are all suffering while Scott Tims runs a health center. He has no real world experience to back up his position, and should stick with handing out condoms and lube at the Well.
Paulette Perrien • Dec 2, 2021 at 9:16 am
Hi- Question? What is lube at the Well? Thank you.
student • Dec 2, 2021 at 10:42 am
lubricant for sex handed out at the student health center
paulette perrien • Dec 2, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Oh! Lord, Thank you. Appreciate.
Current Student • Dec 2, 2021 at 12:23 am
I have made it a habit of mine during my college journey to consistently review Tulane’s published tax filings so that I can be reminded just how much the admin at this university makes while doing such a visibly poor job supporting the student body.
If you were to be curious about where to see such compensation information for yourself, view any one of Tulane’s 990 publishing’s online. The latest shows that Mike Fitts made 1.6+ MILLION dollars in 2019. 1.6+ million dollars a year to run an incompetent administration that has consistently failed to support its student body for years. This week has felt like an actual fever dream at this school. What does the administration ACTUALLY do??? Clean house.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/720423889
Current Student • Dec 1, 2021 at 11:22 pm
This is absolutely appalling information, but unfortunately not surprising to many students who have already felt these impacts personally. This crisis is yet another example of Tulane admin shoving problems under the rug with a shiny promise to be better that lacks any real substance. The pandemic unearthed so many underlying mental health issues in our community and beyond. Our campus now more than ever needs more than just an empty commitment to expanding resources- we need admin who actually care about us and are willing to make the changes to support us. Do better, Tulane.
anonymous student • Dec 1, 2021 at 11:22 pm
Especially eye-opening and informative. As someone who formerly saw one of the aforementioned resigned therapists, along with not receiving a termination session, I also received no notification that they were no longer practicing at Tulane. Only I called the Counseling Center after the summer to schedule another appointment was I informed that my therapist was “no longer with the Counseling Center” and that I would have to go through the entire intake process again (for the 3rd time over my past 4 years at Tulane). As my former counselor had helped me through an incredibly difficult spring semester, it was disappointing and upsetting that I was essentially left hanging, and had to essentially start from scratch with a new therapist. For students with more serious or intense issues, this sudden transition was likely even more jarring. Thank you for posting this article as it’s provided more information and a sense of closure than the Counseling Center failed to even attempt to do.
Anonymous student • Dec 1, 2021 at 11:21 pm
Ok but the counseling center routinely turns people away when they’re in crisis. I get being upset by some of what was said in the meeting but there are many valid complaints.
Tulane Junior • Dec 2, 2021 at 11:35 am
But the only solution to that is increased funding and more clinicians, and counselors themselves can’t do anything about that
Campus Health Has Cancelled my Last 4 Appointments • Dec 1, 2021 at 11:18 pm
I don’t even know where to begin with this article. I’ll just say, why is the campus and city renowned ASS-CLOWN Scott Tims running our Campus Health Center with a PhD? Am I crazy or should we have an MD running the campus health center?
Current Medical Student • Dec 2, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Did you know that Tulane Medical Center is a for-profit hospital run by parent company HCA? Nothing Tulane does is in the interest of anything other than profits and image
Needs Clarification • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:17 pm
Tulane Medical Center, an HCA hospital, and Tulane University are two separate entities. Completely different tax identifications, and while there is a relationship, Tulane Hospital is not part of the University. The hospital keeps the Tulane name as part of the deal made when HCA bought the hospital years ago. You are correct in saying HCA is for-profit but that is HCA, not the University. Not helpful confusing the facts.
Clarification Needed • Dec 3, 2021 at 9:25 pm
Current medical student, it’s important to understand that Tulane Medical Center aka Tulane Hospital and Clinics and Tulane University are two totally separate entities with their own tax identifications. The hospital is an HCA facility, which is for-profit. It maintained the name Tulane as part of the deal made when HCA bought the hospital years ago, but it is not part of the University.
Med student • Dec 8, 2021 at 11:26 am
I don’t understand the importance of this distinction. It still has tulanes name, it is still used by Tulane students and residents and doctors.