Renowned trauma center fires its medical director

A best-selling author and medical director of a renowned Massachusetts trauma center has been fired amid accusations of employee mistreatment.

The Boston Globe reports Dr. Bessel van der Kolk was removed in January from his position at the Brookline Trauma Center, which he founded 35 years ago.

Andy Pond, president of the nonprofit organization Justice Resource Institute, says van der Kolk created a hostile work environment and made employees feel denigrated and uncomfortable.

Van der Kolk says he was fired for attending a meeting with Trauma Center management that Pond told him not to attend. He has denied that he mistreated employees.

Van der Kolk filed a lawsuit against the organization last week, saying executives violated his employment contract.

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Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.bostonglobe.com