UCSD (University of California San Diego)
San Diego Education Report
|
San Diego
Education Report
San Diego Education Report
|
San Diego
Education Report
UCSD
News, information and ideas about our education system, courts and health care by Maura Larkins
|
UCLA
Viviano abruptly departs UCSD in turmoil’s midst
$10 million in Las Vegas losses, body parts audit, and researcher rebellion hit
university
By Matt Potter, July 9, 2015
San Diego Reader
The announced departure of Paul Viviano, who currently enjoys the lengthy title of
chief executive officer for the University of California, San Diego Health System and
associate vice chancellor for UC San Diego Health Sciences, has further shaken up
the already controversy-filled university on the Pacific Ocean.
And even more unpleasant surprises could be in store for the tax-funded institution,
based on a flurry of so far largely behind-the-scenes legal and law-enforcement
maneuvering.
Starting August 24, Viviano will become the new president and chief
executive officer of the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles...
For local consumption, Viviano told the Union-Tribune that his decision to leave had
been "agonizing," and that he wanted to be closer to his family in Huntington Beach.
No salary was given; Viviano's retiring predecessor at Children’s, Richard D.
Cordova, received total annual compensation of $826,589 during the 12
months ending in June of 2013, according the nonprofit's 2013 IRS disclosure
report, the most recently available.
Viviano made more at UCSD, with gross pay of $831,147
during 2013, according to UC salary data posted online, the latest available.
As reported here last year, in July of 2014 Viviano’s salary was boosted
$21,600 by action of the university's regents.
Viviano was also eligible for an unspecified amount of
"Regentally approved incentive pay,” according to regents
minutes.
Hired in May 2012, one of Viviano's early tasks at UCSD was overseeing the abrupt
December 2012 shutdown of the university's costly Nevada Cancer Institute in Las
Vegas.
Media there had reported charges of mismanagement.
It subsequently came to light in March 2013 that Michael Steven Goldman, ex–chief
executive of the cancer institute, was busted that January for alleged unlawful sexual
activity, transporting child pornography, and coercion and enticement.
Goldman later pled guilty to possession of child pornography and in March 2014
was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
A June 30, 2013, university audit, released by the school in response to a request
made under the state's public records act, reported that the total operating loss for
the cancer institute from July 2012 through March 31, 2013 had been $9.9 million.
Of late, more trouble has been brought to light by an August 2014 university audit
that criticized the handling and accounting of body parts and other human
specimens used by the school in research and treatment.
As first reported here, the internal audit was released by the university last month
after months of delay following a request made under the public records act last
year.
"Management advised us that the number of UC San Diego conferences and/or
physician training sessions that utilize anatomical materials purchased from outside
companies has been consistently increasing,” the document said.
Research cadaver accountability has been a problem nationwide, including
at UCSD.
"In addition, there are UC San Diego Health Sciences research
units including, but not limited to the Alzheimer’s Disease
Research Center and the UC San Diego Brain Observatory
that receive donations directly."
Continued the report, "When materials not managed by the [body donation program]
are used in UC San Diego facilities, there is greater risk that methods of
transporting, testing, storing and disposing of materials may not fully comply with
University requirements."
Two weeks ago, university vice chancellor for research Sandra Brown announced
formation of a Human Anatomical Specimen and Tissue Oversight Committee to
manage the growing problem...