University of Miami Faces Age Discrimination Lawsuit
Healthcare operators must document performance-based reassignments to avoid federal age discrimination liability.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Human Resources
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Dr. Robert Brian Stang has filed an age discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit against the University of Miami. The 17-page complaint alleges the university removed him from long-standing hospital duties to favor younger staff members.
Why it matters
The suit highlights critical risks for institutions managing legacy staff transitions, specifically concerning re-credentialing processes and the impact of age-related personnel decisions on labor liability.
The lawsuit involves a 67-year-old physician who claims he was removed from assignment after 35 years of unhindered re-credentialing. The plaintiff seeks back pay and damages, while the university cites an inability to perform specific echocardiogram procedures as the termination cause.
The players
Dr. Robert Brian Stang
An assistant professor at the University of Miami who served as a physician for nearly four decades.
University of Miami
A private research university and major medical employer in Florida.
Dr. Yiannis Chatzizisis
A medical professional identified in the lawsuit as allegedly interfering with the plaintiff's re-credentialing process.
Dr. Joan St. Onge
A senior university figure to whom the plaintiff reported internal grievances in June 2024.
The details
Stang alleges he was removed from an ultrasound-reading assignment in March 2024 and officially barred from clinic work in September. The plaintiff claims that Dr. Yiannis Chatzizisis interfered with his re-credentialing application after Stang reported comments to Dr. Joan St. Onge in June. The university maintains the personnel action resulted from Stang's inability to perform a transesophageal echocardiogram.
Timeline
1986: Stang began his tenure at the University of Miami.
March 2024: Stang was initially removed from echo lab duties.
Early June 2024: Stang reported concerns regarding Dr. Chatzizisis to leadership.
Sept. 21, 2024: Stang was formally removed from his echo lab assignment.
Oct. 1, 2024: Stang ceased receiving his full compensation.
Market Landscape
This case follows a documented pattern of litigation regarding the Age Discrimination in Employment Act within academic medical centers. It marks a departure from standard internal grievance resolutions by elevating allegations of credentialing interference to federal court.
Operators must ensure that any removal of senior staff from technical duties is supported by clear, documented, and performance-based metrics that survive scrutiny. Review credentialing and assignment protocols to ensure they apply uniformly regardless of staff age.
The takeaway
Management of legacy medical staff requires rigorous, objective documentation of procedural competency to avoid allegations of discriminatory staff transition. Owners should ensure that personnel files for senior specialists include consistent, dated reviews to substantiate performance-related changes.
Further reading
For broader insights on managing high-stakes personnel transitions, visit our Human Resources section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legal Newsline.
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