Smith Leads Patients, Allies to Deliver 8,000 Signatures Petitioning for Reinstatement of Unjustly Fired UH Pediatricians

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) led a delegation of patients, elected leaders and community allies in delivering 8,000 petition signatures at the University Hospitals (UH) Management Services Center Building to demand that UH reinstate doctors Lauren Beene and Valerie Fouts-Fowler, two beloved pediatricians who were fired after leading a unionization effort. The petition also calls for UH to respect doctors' rights to speak up for patient care and form a union without fear or retaliation.

“I stand firmly alongside doctors Beene and Fouts-Fowler because they were standing up for patients,” said Smith. “When UH leadership made the decision to fire these two doctors, they were hoping to silence other frontline medical professionals. But we are here again, and we are not silent. The only permanent outcome accomplished by UH is that they tarnished their reputation as a top quality hospital system that truly cares about patient outcomes.”

Supporters said their termination is a clear act of retaliation against protected union activity and a direct threat to patient care, physicians’ voices and the integrity of our healthcare system. The physicians have received the support of elected leaders, professional associations, and community allies, including the Ohio Senate and House Democratic Caucuses, Cleveland City Council, Ohio Nurses Association, and labor unions, all who have raised deep concern with University Hospitals’ handling of this matter.

Drs. Beene and Fouts-Fowler collectively served thousands of pediatric patients during their time at UH and both have been named to the Cleveland Magazine Best Doctors List. In early 2024, they began raising complaints to hospital administrators about a number of issues throughout the health system, including understaffing in the emergency room and changes that impacted the timely processing of blood tests for sick children.