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Medical staff offers care, assurances for Walker's patients
Alternate care arrangements have been made for the patients of a Stanford Hospital & Clinics gynecologist who has been charged with theft and elder abuse in connection with the death of her grandmother and the handling of the grandmother's estate.
Cheryl Walker, MD, assistant professor of gynecology and obstetrics and medical director of the hospital's gynecology clinic, was arraigned Feb. 7 along with her mother.
Santa Clara County prosecutors allege that Walker and her mother improperly appropriated the grandmother's property and assets in the months leading up to the grandmother's death in May of last year. They also allege that an autopsy found traces of a potentially lethal dose of prescription drugs in the grandmother's blood.
Walker's attorney, James W. Blackman, has denied the charges, maintaining that he believes Walker will be exonerated. At Stanford, Walker has been placed on administrative leave and is not seeing patients.
University officials noted that the charges are unrelated to patient care at Stanford Hospital & Clinics. "Dr. Walker is a highly regarded clinician and teacher," said Philip Pizzo, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.
"This is a difficult time for her, and we hope the community will reserve judgment on the case as it makes its way through the legal system," he added.
In Walker's absence, Carol Glowacki, a staff physician at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, has been appointed interim medical director of the gynecology clinic.
Staff members contacted Walker's patients individually to let them know Walker would not be able to see them. Clinic staff also rescheduled the appointments with other Stanford gynecologists who have agreed to step in and care for Walker's patients while she is on leave.
Patients were also given the opportunity by clinic staff to transfer their care to other physicians.
