As COVID-19 vaccinations become increasingly available, Lehigh Health and Wellness staff is preparing for implications on the university community. (Anna Simoneau/ BW Staff)

University physician suspended after allegations of sexual misconduct

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Lehigh University Health and Wellness Center medical assistant Christine Feit was fired after she reported multiple complaints of sexual misconduct toward female students and employees by Dr. Thomas Novak, interim director of the Health and Wellness Center, a recent federal lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit reported that Novak allegedly carried out breast examinations without gloves and inappropriately commented on females’ bodies. He had remained a member of the Health and Wellness Center staff despite allegations dating back to 2012.

Novak has been suspended and restricted from campus, according to an email from University Communications.

“We plan to defend the allegations against the University as outlined in the suit,” Lori Friedman, Lehigh’s director of media relations, said in an email.

The lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on May 23 and made public on May 30.

Members of the Lehigh community shared their responses to the recent allegations on Twitter.

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1 Comment

  1. Senior alulmnus doubter on

    This article is inadequately researched and reported.

    It took very little Google effort to find this link:

    https://media.wfmz.com/mara-wfmz-media-us-east-1/document_dev/2019/05/31/Lehigh%20University%20lawsuit_1559314352338_38551913_ver1.0.pdf

    Which produced the complete 18 page publicly available lawsuit file larded up with absurdly insignificant allegations.

    It is unclear how many of the claims are real? Or, is it a case of a hypersensitive #metoo zealot and a dubious lawyer going after Lehigh’s “deep pockets” pot of endowment money.

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