Uproar and disbelief led to Ballad Health in Johnson city, Tenesse to let go a cardiothoracic surgeon after he invited the then-CEO of Bristol (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center to participate in a surgical procedure.…beckershospitalreview, Ballad dismisses cardiothoracic surgeon who asked CEO to make incision on patient, Ayla Ellison, 2020
Greg Neal, stepped down as CEO after he accepted participating in a surgical procedure without a medical license. Nathan Smith, MD, the cardiothoracic surgeon had invited the CEO to enter the operating room to observe the surgery and asked him to make the initial incision for the procedure. As the incident was reported, Ballad officials launched an investigation and subsequently, asked Nathan to resign and also terminated Dr. Smith’s employment.