As an institution, Columbia continues to grapple with the magnitude of harm done to the patients of former physician Robert Hadden. Nothing can excuse that these patients were mistreated in a setting where they should have been cared for and safe. We are heartbroken for those who have suffered and continue to suffer from these terrible actions. Hadden will spend the rest of his life in prison thanks to these courageous women. We commend them for coming forward. We offer our deepest apologies to all his victims and their loved ones.
Since Hadden last saw patients more than a decade ago, Columbia has worked to enhance the policies and processes in place to afford our patients a safe environment of care, and we remain committed to strengthening the safeguards that are essential for earning patient trust. Even still, it is difficult to reconcile this tragedy with the values that Columbia University is committed to upholding across our campuses.
If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions stemming from these events, we encourage you to discuss them with campus academic and administrative leadership. Concerns can also be reported anonymously through the University’s Compliance Hotline (https://compliance.columbia.edu/hotline or 866-627-3768) or the Patient Safety Hotline (212-305-8548). If you need personal support, please know that the services of the CopeColumbia team are available to you.
As new leaders at Columbia, we pledge to do everything possible to ensure the safety and welfare of all members of our community, including our patients. We are dedicated to working together to honor the values we share.
Minouche Shafik
President, Columbia University in the City of New York
Katrina Armstrong, MD
Chief Executive Officer, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences, Columbia University