

ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE SUED BY RENOWNED DOCTOR FOR INVIDIOUS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Racial Discrimination Complaint Lodged Against Roswell Park By Ted Kirkland & Reprinted From The Buffalo Challenger
In September, 2008, on his first day in Buffalo, Dr. Willie Underwood checked into the Black community by appearing on Kirkland’s Corner to introduce himself to the community. His credentials include a Doctorate in Medicine (MD), a Master’s of Science Degree in Anatomy and Cell Biology, and a Master’s of Public Health Degree in Health Management and Policy. He was also the former Chief of Urology Services at the Ann Arbor Veterans’ Administration; a staff Physician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan; and an Assistant Professor of Urology at Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute. On that same day Dr. Underwood, a prominent Black medical doctor, surgeon and research scientist, joined the staff at
Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). Now, seven years later, he has filed a federal civil rights complaint against his employer and immediate supervisor, James Mohler. Such action is quite rare among Blacks of his profession. Filed as case 1:15 -cv-00684-FPG –Document 1 on July 28, 2015 with the United States District Court Western District of New York, the claim alleges numerous instances of racial discrimination and civil rights violations against his person as a Black American citizen of these United States.
In his 35 page document, Dr. Willie Underwood,III, M.D., charges Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and Dr. James Mohler, individually, and as Chair of the Department of Urology, with discrimination and violating his civil rights. Dr. Underwood says this action was brought because he was discriminated against based upon his race in the terms and conditions of his employment, including pay, benefits, scheduling, responsibility,
and allowing him to perform various professional duties, among many other terms and conditions of employment. He further claims this action is brought because he was retaliated against after filing a charge of race discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New York Division of Human Rights. Also, his claim to bring this action is because he was retaliated against for informing his superiors and members of RPCI’s administration of numerous and very serious concerns about patient care, maintenance of database and funding. It had been rumored that Dr. Underwood was no longer welcomed at Roswell Park, and accordingly was slated to be fired. However, he had become ingratiated in the Black community as an expert on prostate cancer prevention and other health issues. As a result, members of the Black community responded in kind, from lay persons to pastors of several churches. Letters were sent to Dr. Donald Trump, executive director of Roswell Park protesting the intended firing of Dr. Underwood. Dr. Trump’s response was
that Underwood would not to be fired; I received one of those letters. (This Donald Trump mentioned is not the Donald Trump campaigning for president). Shortly afterward, Dr. Underwood said he was sent to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for additional training where he remained for several weeks. Upon his return to Roswell, according to sources, Dr. Underwood was not given duties as an urologist or surgeon, thus leaving the urology department without a single Black urologist, since Underwood was the only Black urologist at RPCI, and one of two in all of Buffalo. Then Dr. Trump suddenly resigned as executive director and has left Buffalo. Although space does not allow for the publishing of all 159 justifications for Dr. Underwood’s complaint; this may become the most important racial discrimination civil rights case in Buffalo during this 21st Century involving a Black medical doctor vs. a state and federally funded hospital specializing in Cancer treatment, and the white chair of the urology department. With such a high percentage of Black male prostate cancer patients in Western New York, one must wonder why only one Black urologist at RPCI.
During Dr. Underwood’s problems at Roswell, a group of Black educators were going through similar challenges and indignities in the Buffalo Public School system. Their qualifications, credentials, and training were alsO being challenged by whites.
This involved former Buffalo Board of Education Superintend, Pamela Brown, and her aides: Mary Guinn, Yamilette Williams, Faith Alexander, and Terry Rose. All with PhDs in education and beyond, who came from outside of Buffalo to save our children. They were ultimately forced out of their positions and have left town.
Shellonnee Chinn was the only Black teacher employed at Elmwood Franklin School, one of the most elite private schools in Buffalo in its 127 years of existence. She holds a M.S Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Medaille College and is a Consultant for the Magic Penny Early Institute. After 14 years at Elmwood Franklin School, she suddenly found herself placed on leave as of February 11, 2015. It seems that she was relieved of her teaching duties because she was disrespectful and showed unprofessional conduct toward white workers. A few weeks ago, a group of Black workers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute held a meeting under a shelter in the Martin Luther King Park, which I attended. They represented the lower paying staff at RPCI. I was invited to hear their complaints of racial discrimination and racism. Several brought their children, despite the fear of being seen and losing their jobs. There are two very distinct common denominators. First, they are Black and powerless. Second, they find themselves alone and unorganized, without any outside assistance. But the same is not true of Roswell Park or Elmwood Franklin.
It seems that Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Elmwood Franklin School are united from the top down. Michael L. Joseph is president of Roswell Park Board of Directors and of Elmwood Franklin School Board of Trustees. He is also President of Clover Management, and serves on numerous boards throughout the Buffalo area.
Whether Blacks are educators, Fruit Belt victims, unemployed, victims of police brutality, prisoners, poverty victims, poorly educated, or prominent physicians like Dr. Underwood, they are all alike and treated the same when racism is a factor.