Things turned ugly at the Wausau Family Practice Residency Program in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine after Dr. Michael Curtiss filed discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging he was fired because of his religious beliefs.
Curtiss, a second-year resident in the program, was fired in January after he attended a lecture on Islam. UW officials denies Curtiss’ claim of religious discrimination, but gave no explanation for the termination. Curtiss said although the presentation was intended to offer information on trauma, podiatry and fracture treatment, it was more like a “forum to expound on their religious views.”
“They wouldn’t have given me two and a half hours to preach Jesus Christ and salvation,” Curtiss said.
Curtiss, who has been practicing medicine for 15 years, said the presenters, first-year residents Altaf Kaiserruddin and Ilyas Sial, described the Five Pillars of Islam and admitted they were evangelizing. He questioned the lecturers about their beliefs in what he said was a respectful matter. A week later Kaiserruddin handed him his termination notice.
UW officials deny wrongdoing in the case, saying his charge is without merit.
“Residents in the Department of Family Medicine deliver medical services to patients from very diverse cultural backgrounds,” said Michael Felber of UW Health Marketing and Public Affairs in a statement. “The established curriculum of the Department of Family Medicine Residency Program includes occasional informational presentations about different cultures. The purpose of these presentations is to adequately prepare residents to deliver high quality medical care to people of different backgrounds.”
Curtiss said the lecture violated civil liberties.
“If you want separation of church and state it’s got to go both ways,” he said.
He added that he thought the lecture was unnecessary for the small Wisconsin city.
“Islam has no implications of medical practice in Wausau, Wisconsin.”
Officials at the clinic refused comment.
Curtiss also charged the university with age and disability discrimination, telling WorldNetDaily it is possible the school will base the termination on medical problems he has suffered because of a tumor.