Attorney, LSU Health Sciences employees speak at news conference about allegations against medical school chancellor

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - The attorney for the four LSU Health Sciences employees who have accused Dr. G.E. Ghali of gender-based discrimination and retaliation held a news conference Wednesday, May 5 to answer questions.

The event was held at 3 p.m. at the law offices of Downer, Jones, Marino and Wilhite in downtown Shreveport.

The women who have made the complaints include Dr. Jennifer Woerner, associate dean of academic affairs; Dr. Sharon Dunn, dean of the School of Allied Health; Dr. Christina Notarianni, director of pediatric neurosurgery; and Dr. Christi Rinaudo, EdD, with the Department of Academic Affairs.

The women are represented by attorney Allison Jones.

“In April 2021, after deep thought and much personal consternation, my clients filed Title IX claims with LSU’s main Title IX office alleging Chancellor Ghali’s pervasive gender-based discrimination, sexually inappropriate behavior, and permissiveness of sexually inappropriate behavior by male colleagues, namely the egregious sexually inappropriate behavior perpetrated by Dr. Scott Kennedy, former Dean of Admissions, under Dr. Ghali’s supervision,” Jones said.

Below is the full news release from Downer, Jones, Marino and Wilhite.

The conference began with Jones calling for a change in administration and leadership at the school.

“Under the leadership of Chancellor Ghali, the LSU Medical School in Shreveport has a shameful record of condoning offensive, unbecoming, discriminatory, retaliatory and unequal behavior. My clients have stepped forward to file their charges not only to protect themselves, but protect the protected learners at LSU Medical School in Shreveport. Simply put, there must be a change in administration,” said Jones.

Jones, along with her clients, say they want LSU to take gender discrimination seriously.

“As educators, our goal and priorities are to create an environment for our students that’s safe and healthy for them. That’s why we’re speaking out,” Rinaudo said.

Jones said Ghali has not been removed as a doctor or as a tenured faculty member. She also said the school’s human resources department has yet to investigate any of the charges they have brought forth.

“What’s most disturbing, however, is that after these EEOC charges were filed, not one person from human resources, not one person from LSU administration contacted me or my clients to conduct any investigation into these charges,” said Jones.

After the news conference, LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard issued the following statement: “Following today’s news conference, LSU has no further statement beyond what we’ve already provided.”

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charges are pending at this time. The EEOC charges can be viewed below:

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