Complaint Review: Loma Linda Implant Dentistry program

Suit Alleges Sex Harassment at Dental School:

In a lawsuit that describes a Loma Linda University dental school postdoctoral program as a bastion of male sexism, a former student alleges that she was targeted with crude sexual remarks and behavior by other dentists--all men--before being dismissed from the program after complaining.Dr. Monica Bijlani, 31, says that she endured more than three years of harassment while trying to earn a master's degree so she could specialize in dental implantology--only to finally have three thesis proposals rejected.

In her suit filed last week in San Bernardino Superior Court, Bijlani says men in the program openly discussed their sexual prowess, commented in her presence about her physical appearance, made "thrusting movements" behind her, exhibited other crude behavior and placed breast-shaped plastic molds on her desk.All the while, Dr. Jaime Lozada, the program director, participated in the harassment and cheered on the other male dentists, "which created a hostile and intimidating environment," according to the lawsuit."This is the most outrageous case of sexual harassment I've ever worked on," said San Diego attorney Andrew Edenbaum. "There is substantial evidence and support of our client's case through dentists who visited Loma Linda, who witnessed this for themselves."Sharing the case is San Francisco lawyer Philip Kay, who in 1994 won a $7.1-million jury award against the world's largest law firm, Baker & McKenzie, after a secretary there charged that she was sexually harassed.The university declined to discuss the specifics of the lawsuit or respond to its allegations, saying school officials have yet to see the suit. The officials said Lozada was not available for comment.Loma Linda University began investigating Bijlani's allegations before the lawsuit was filed, according to Augustus Cheatham, vice president for public affairs."We take allegations of sexual harassment very seriously, and in cases where they have been substantiated, we have taken very strong action, including dismissal," he said Monday.Cheatham would not say how many people have been dismissed from the campus due to sexual harassment charges, but characterized the incidence of it as "low for a group this size."Loma Linda University, with more than 4,000 students, faculty and staff, is a private institution operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as is its adjacent medical center.

Lozada often asked Bijlani, "Why don't you get married, settle down like normal women, have children like you were meant to?" the suit says.Bijlani was suspended, then placed on probation and ultimately dismissed from Loma Linda University, purportedly because she borrowed slides without Lozada's permission and placed the letters "M.S." (master of science) after her name for lectures she was scheduled to attend after her expected graduation, even though she had not yet earned the degree, the lawsuit says.She claims that other students frequently borrowed the same slides and took the liberty of adding "M.S." to their titles in anticipation of earning the degree.In her lawsuit, Bijlani complained that she proposed three different master's theses that were rejected--including one project that was then offered to another dentist.She alleges in her suit that after complaining about the sexual harassment, the university retaliated by falsely accusing her of submitting research proposals to private companies without the faculty's knowledge, of receiving dental products from a company which she then sold to a local dentist, and of abandoning a patient.Her lawsuit charges loss of reputation and future earnings, and mental and emotional injury, but does not specify an amount of damages."Dr. Bijlani was focused and dedicated," Edenbaum said. "She didn't drop out of the program, she never flinched. She had the guts to put up with it because, as a woman, she was dedicated to be a trailblazer [in this field]."Bijlani earned a certificate of graduation but was not awarded a master's degree in dental implantation, which involves attaching artificial teeth to the jawbone.