Recording: Duaa Altaee Discussing Sexual Harassment with University of Michigan HR (NIH Grant Project

In a 2015 recording, Duaa Altaee, a University of Michigan research coordinator, is speaking with Human Resources after reporting sexual harassment within the Department of Radiology on a project funded by an NIH grant. Duaa initially reported the conduct to the lead research coordinator, who took her to the Vice Chair of Research, Dr. Isaac Francis, who confirmed that the situation met the criteria for sexual harassment and referred the matter to Department Chair Dr. Reed Dunnick, who at the time was one of the most powerful radiology chairs in the country.

Dr. Dunnick subsequently met with Duaa. During this meeting, he made a racially insensitive comment, referring to Duaa as “racially ambiguous.”

In the recorded conversation with HR, Human Resources first stated that no formal investigation would be conducted (at the 3:40 mark) and repeated this position later in the conversation.

This recording documents the University’s failure to properly investigate sexual harassment claims despite acknowledgment from leadership, occurring within the context of an NIH-funded research project, and highlights significant institutional accountability gaps.

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Brad Foerster, MD PhD

Brad Foerster is a FOIA advocate documenting requests, transparency disputes, and accountability investigations involving public agencies, universities, police oversight, and Russia-Gate related inquiries. His work compiles original documents, timelines, and analysis of public records and institutional responses. Brad is also a board-certified radiologist, author of Town & Gown, and has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles. Brad lives in Potomac, Maryland with his family and is active in the Montgomery County Medical Society and the Takoma Park U.S. & World History Book Club.