Reception scheduled for fired oncologist

CEDAR RAPIDS - A reception has been scheduled to honor Dr. Chirantan Ghosh, a Cedar Rapids oncologist who was fired last month by Physicians' Clinic of Iowa.

Board members of the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation are inviting friends, patients and colleagues to the June 19 reception to celebrate Ghosh's nomination as a finalist for the Humanitarian Award given by the American Society of Clinical Oncologists. The foundation was started by Ghosh to help cancer patients pay for medications.

The reception, set for 2 to 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, was announced last week on the Support Dr. Chirantan Ghosh page on Facebook.

Also last week, PCI sent a statement about Ghosh, saying that effective June 30, he is terminated without cause as per the language in the employment agreement. However, the statement pointed out, he has not been terminated from practicing medicine, “simply from practicing medicine as a partner within PCI.”

“The circumstances surrounding the decision to part ways are much broader and have existed for much longer than has been reported; however, PCI has and will continue to abide by the confidentiality agreements signed by both parties,” the statement said. “In addition, the staff members employed to work with Dr. Ghosh remain actively employed by Physicians' Clinic of Iowa. We are working with the affected staff members and it is our hope that they consider alternate employment opportunities within the PCI organization.

“Dr. Ghosh has developed excellent rapport with patients and has been a good community friend. We wish Dr. Ghosh well in his future endeavors.”