State Senator Kimberly Lightford defends Loretto CEO George Miller – while deposed CEO Dr. Anosh Ahmed defends himself

SPRINGFIELD – Kimberly Lightford, majority leader in the State Senate, defended on Friday George Miller, CEO of Loretto Hospital, where the western suburban senator serves as a board member and is the namesake of his emergency department, built with state funds that she helped to ensure.

Despite the coronavirus vaccine scandal at the West Side hospital, Lightford said Miller is “one of our best presidents we’ve ever had”.

Lightford’s demonstration of support for Miller comes when the ousted hospital executive, Dr. Anosh Ahmed, issued a statement saying he resigned as chief operating officer and chief financial officer this week “because I was becoming a distraction from heroic work carried out by nurses, doctors and staff during the pandemic. ”

He claims that “many” of the allegations against him were “inaccurate or evidently false”, but he also admitted that only a quarter of those vaccinated at the hospital were residents of the Austin neighborhood.

“Unfortunately, stories of my involvement in providing vaccines outside the community have become daily media and political material instead of focusing on the pandemic and expanding access to health services in the Austin community and beyond,” said Ahmed in a statement on Friday -market.

Ahmed and Miller were investigated for the first time after revelations from the Block Club Chicago that the hospital improperly provided vaccinations to Trump Tower workers, where Ahmed lives; a luxury watchmaker on the Gold Coast where Ahmed does his shopping; and an expensive steakhouse that Ahmed frequents.

Miller received criticism for authorizing Trump Tower vaccinations and providing vaccine to more than 200 members of his suburban church in the southwest.

He did not resign, but apologized last week.

“Have mercy on me, O God,” wrote Miller on Facebook. “Forgive me for going my own way and not aligning my life with your perfect will. I confess that I was deceived for my own selfish purposes and lost sight of Your face. “

At an unrelated press conference on Friday, Lightford – a 21-year-old Loretto board member – expressed strong support for Miller.

“It is important that we continue to provide quality health care to the Austin community and, at this time, we do not see Mr. Miller as a detriment to our efforts,” she said.

The Maywood Democrat said Miller made no contributions to his campaign fund, but state election council records show that in 2019 Miller made a $ 2,500 contribution to the Senate Democratic Leadership Fund, which Lightford oversees as president.

Justin L. Fowler / The State Journal-Register via AP

The hospital’s “Kimberly A. Lightford Emergency Department” takes its name from the senator. It was built in 2009 with “$ 8.2 million in capital improvement funds received from Lightford,” according to the hospital’s website.

Another board member, state deputy La Shawn Ford, resigned from the panel earlier this week, saying the hospital’s reprimands to Ahmed and Miller were insufficient.

“I am very disappointed with the recent developments at Loretto Hospital regarding the use of the hospital’s coronavirus vaccine,” said the West Side Democrat in a statement released Tuesday morning. “Yesterday I resigned … because I strongly disagree with how the hospital leadership’s reprimand was handled.”

Before his resignation, Ahmed was reprimanded by the hospital behind closed doors and given a 60-day suspension, a source told Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell on Wednesday.

In his testimony, Ahmed said he was “dismayed” that Loretto did not reveal data from the hospital’s vaccination audit, which he calls “apologetic”.

According to Ahmed, the hospital administered more than 23,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated 16,000 people. Of these, only 200 vaccinated patients were considered unqualified to receive the vaccine.

In a statement, Hospital Loretto said the audit referred to by Ahmed “has not yet been completed”, but once it is done, the data will be shared “everywhere”.

“Loretto has been at the forefront of the pandemic from day one to care for and protect the black and brown communities not only in Austin, but also in neighborhoods facing underserved health needs across the west, providing 23,000 COVID tests and more than 16,000 vaccinations – the overwhelming majority of those who went to people of color ”, said the statement.

Earlier this week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot prevented the hospital from receiving more first-dose vaccines.

Anthony Vazquez / Sun-Times

“We have very robust supervision,” said Lightfoot at a news conference on Wednesday. “We have the right to expect – and according to our contract – that people will abide by the rules and provide us with accurate reports. And what we saw in at least two cases was not the case. “

In his testimony, Ahmed begged the mayor to reverse his decision.

“I am proud of the work we were able to do during my tenure at the hospital and I hope, with my resignation, that they will continue to move in the positive direction and remain an asset to the community,” he said. “I am hopeful that the city will immediately restore Loretto’s supply of COVID-19 vaccines.”