Native American Press/Ojibwe News

Three fired IHB doctors to establish new Phillips Health Clinic

By Clara Niiska - August 2, 2002
Three physicians fired from jobs they loved by an administration they despised are planning to open a new clinic in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis in September.

The three doctors, Lydia Caros, Carol Krush and Lori Banaszak, were fired from their positions for what Indian Health Board officials described as "insubordination." Firings and resignations have been common occurrences at the IHB in recent years. The clinic at 1315 E. 24th St. was the scene of angry picketing this spring as Caros was fired in February, followed by the firing of Krush and Banaszak in April.

Community members and Indian activists directed charges of mismanagement and financial waste at the Indian Health Board. Clinic patients and others in the community called for the members of the board of directors to step down and for the doctors to be reinstated. The doctors had hoped that the [federal] Indian Health Board would respond to the call but the response from that board and from any other public entity were strangely silent.

In the meantime, there have been more painful departures from the clinic in recent months. Except for the resignation of IHB treasurer Stephanie Autumn, calls for resignation of the board have met with no response and it appeared that the board of directors were firmly entrenched at the clinic.

In June, the three physicians, buoyed by the support they received from a number of Indian organizations, began talking about opening a new clinic. The idea of opening a nonprofit clinic advanced from the talking stage to what appears to be quick action. They plan to open a clinic in September in a strip mall at 13th and Franklin Avenues, only a few blocks from IHB.

Dr. Caros says there are too many serious health issues in the Phillips area to worry about rivalry. It was her hope that someday the two clinics could work together. However, Dr. Terril Hart, who has been IHB chief executive officer since February, did not share that view. "It's hard to believe we could ever have too many services in Phillips," Hart said. "I also believe that competition is good for everyone."

When Hart was asked if any thought was given to rehiring the fired doctors, He responded, "The only thing I can do is express the point of view of the board and they have never expressed any desire to revisit their decision."