Fired University of Iowa professor deemed ‘fit to practice medicine’

IOWA CITY — A former University of Iowa radiology professor who was fired after engaging in harassing behavior toward colleagues, and subsequently let his Iowa medical license go inactive, has again been deemed 'fit to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety' by the Iowa Board of Medicine.

The board on Wednesday made public details of a Dec. 5 settlement agreement with Malik Juweid that indicate a board-ordered evaluation found his behavior had been the result of an acute episode induced by self-prescribed medicine for a chronic health condition.

The evaluation found that Juweid's symptoms have resolved since he stopped taking the medication, according to the board's report. It did, however, recommend Juweid continue treatment with a professional who understands the treatment for his chronic health condition and his past behavior.

According to the Dec. 5 settlement, the board charged Juweid with 'engaging in a pattern of disruptive behavior/or unprofessional conduct' from 2010 to 2012. And it cited and warned him, ordering him to pay a $5,000 fine and complete a board-approved professional ethics program before seeking to have his Iowa medical license reinstated.

He also was placed on probation for five years, subject to board monitoring.

The settlement is a long time coming after Juweid first was placed on leave from the university in 2010. UI President Sally Mason agreed in 2012 with a faculty panel's recommendation to fire Juweid for violating harassment policies.

The Board of Regents upheld the firing in February 2013.

The state medical board first ordered Juweid to complete a comprehensive evaluation in November 2011, and he objected. In September 2012, he agreed not to practice medicine in Iowa, and in August 2013, he was ordered to complete the evaluation or let his license go inactive.

In December of that year, the board charged Juweid for failing to complete the evaluation, but Juweid in March entered into a settlement with the board to resolve pending disciplinary charges. He completed his evaluation Aug. 19, leading to the Dec. 5 settlement.

Last month, the Iowa Board of Appeals upheld Juweid's firing from the university, despite his claims that he was denied a fair trial due to conflicts of interest existing with the assistant attorney general and UI President Sally Mason.

Specifically, Juweid argued that Mason was both an accuser and witness in his disciplinary action, a civil defendant, potential criminal defendant, and adjudicator in his disciplinary action. He said Mason's impartiality to preside over his proceedings 'can reasonably be questioned,' according to the appeals court ruling.

'We are not persuaded,' according to the ruling. 'Juweid offers only bald assertions that President Mason was the 'chief accuser/witness' in his disciplinary hearing, that she had a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the civil suit, and that the outcome of his civil action could subject President Mason to criminal liability.

'We reject these unsubstantiated claims,' the court ruled.