[FPSPACE] Ex-astronaut Rhea Seddon files suit against Vanderbilt Medical Center

[Jim Oberg]

      Ex-astronaut files suit against Vanderbilt Medical Center 
      By: ERIN EDGEMON, Aug. 19, 2008
      http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=12539 
      Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:14 am
     
     
            Murfreesboro resident and former astronaut Rhea Seddon has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against former employer Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

            Dr. Seddon, who was terminated by VUMC last year from her position as assistant chief medical officer, claims her then supervisor Dr. Wright Pinson, chief medical officer, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center discriminated against her. 

            She also claims VUMC "has not made a concerted effort to provide outreach programs to recruit, encourage and attract high-level female physicians to key clinical leadership positions" at VUMC.

            A civil lawsuit was filed in Davidson County Chancery Court earlier this month.

            In the lawsuit, Seddon says her supervisor was confrontational and retaliated against her.

            In a written statement, VUMC denied any discrimination.

            "Vanderbilt denies that it has discriminated against Dr. Seddon in any way and intends to vigorously defend the action against it," said John Howser, deputy director in Vanderbilt Medical Center's Office of News & Public Affairs.

            Seddon claims she didn't receive supplemental pay after being appointed to a facility position at Vanderbilt School of Medicine like her male counterparts.

            From 2004-07, no one in Seddon's department filed the necessary paperwork to execute the appointment or identify her as a faculty member, according to the lawsuit.

            When questioned about her appointment, Pinson told her that she "should stop trying to rock the boat."

            Seddon is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in her suit. She claims she suffered damages including loss of supplemental pay, pain and suffering, humiliation, mental anguish, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life."

            Further she claims, as a result of VUMC's alleged "pervasive" gender discrimination she lost professional opportunities and her academic reputation was endangered.

            Seddon stated she was fired about a month after Pinson received the results of an employee satisfaction survey. Anonymity was promised in the survey where Seddon gave Pinson a poor review based on her alleged treatment.

            Pinson told her that her position was being eliminated due to restructuring at VUMC. She was not offered another position; no male colleagues were affected.

            Additionally, the lawsuit states Pinson refused to let Seddon move into a larger office around February 2006 when it became available. Pinson assigned it to a new male physician. 

            At the time, Seddon had a window office measuring about 10 feet by 8 feet. 

            Following a second request to change her office, Pinson moved Seddon to a windowless office about 6 feet by 6 feet in size and located next to the men's restroom. 

            Around May 2004, Seddon claims Pinson "went into a loud and prolonged tirade" at her as she was conducting a meeting attended by chairmen of all the large clinical departments at VUMC. 

            Following the meeting, Seddon claims Pinson "called her into his office and continued to yell at her threateningly." She said the behavior was reported but nothing was ever done about it. 

            Seddon was hired by Vanderbilt University Medical Center as assistant chief medical officer in 1996. She was terminated in July 2007.

            Prior to Seddon's employment at Vanderbilt, she has a 19-year career as one of NASA's first female astronauts and completed three space shuttle flights. While at NASA, Seddon also worked part-time as an emergency room physician at various hospitals in Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas.

            Seddon currently works with Lifewing Partners LLC, which provides teamwork and patient-safety training to hospitals. 

            Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon at murfreesboropost.com.
           
     
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