• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Woman gains entry into hospital OR by posing as medical resident

Residency Program Insider, February 10, 2017

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Residency Program Insider!

A woman posing as a physician in training successfully infiltrated the medical staff ranks at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston last year, according to an article published in The Boston Globe. Cheryl Wang, 42, was dismissed from a surgical residency program in New York City and reported to the state disciplinary board before entering the Brigham medical scene last September. Over the course of two days, she attended rounds, entered five operating rooms to observe surgeries, and assisted in a patient transport before Brigham physicians realized she wasn’t authorized to participate in these activities.

Wang revisited the hospital last December, observing surgeries for two more days before staff recognized her. Previously, she had managed to shadow a Brigham surgeon by forging recommendation letters. Despite these intrusions, Wang did not actively participate in patient care, a Brigham spokesperson said. As a result of the breach, Brigham has fortified its surgery observation policy and stepped up staff education on tailgating.

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Residency Program Insider!

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive