Diverse Docket: Judge Sides With Yale in Discrimination Suit

A federal judge in Connecticut has rejected race and gender discrimination claims by an African-American doctor who was terminated from Yale University’s obstetrics and gynecology residency program, finding that the university had a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its action.

The suit came from Dr. Anthony Craig, who was one of three African-Americans among the six residents admitted to the program in 2008. They were selected from a field of 363 candidates, Yale said in court filings.

Craig signed a one-year employment contract with Yale’s medical school. During his first months, he received sharply negative performance evaluations, with some attending physicians failing him and with others reporting that they would be uncomfortable with his treating their patients unsupervised.

For example, Craig came under criticism for a lack of surgical skills, poor communication with patients and colleagues, need for constant supervision, lack of organization and failure to improve, according to court documents. There were also suggestions that he would perform better in a laboratory setting or that he transfer to a less strenuous residency program at a community-based hospital.

After his initial dismissal from the program, Craig filed a grievance that led to his reinstatement with an agreement to a 12-week performance improvement plan. During that period, the majority of evaluators again found his performance substandard, and Yale permanently dismissed him in April 2009. A Black woman later filled his residency position.

The lawsuit alleged discrimination, emotional distress, breach of contract by the university and by the director and associate director of Craig’s program. It sought reinstatement to the program, plus compensatory and punitive damages.

U.S. District Judge Janet Arterton dismissed the case, saying, “The record is replete with evidence of Dr. Craig’s poor performance.”