University of Michigan Office of Instutional Equity (Title IX) Memorandum Documents “Nick Bee” Allegations, OGC Review, and Unresolved " Nick Bee" Identity Questions
During November 12, 2018 University of Michigan 5.09 proceedings, Dr. Bradley Foerster questioned Michigan Medicine Chief Information Security Officer Jack Kufahl concerning whether the origin of e-mails attributed to “Nick Bee” could theoretically be tracked down through e-mail header information and related technical review.
The continued November 17, 2018 proceedings later included introduction of an October 1, 2018 University of Michigan Office for Institutional Equity (OIE)/Title IX memorandum involving “Nick B.,” University review of identity-related evidence, and Office of the General Counsel involvement.
The memorandum arose from an OIE complaint submitted by Dr. Myria Petrou regarding “Nick B.” The memorandum was dated October 1, 2018 — the day after Dr. Petrou’s September 30, 2018 resignation from the University of Michigan Department of Radiology. Dr. Petrou never received the memorandum, which first surfaced during the November 17, 2018 proceedings.
Related material: November 2018 5.09 Testimony of Jack Kufahl, Chief Information Security Officer of Michigan Medicine, Concerning “Nick B.” E-Mails and IP Address Tracking
This record examines the October 1, 2018 University of Michigan Office for Institutional Equity (OIE)/Title IX memorandum concerning allegations attributed to “Nick Bee,” the University’s internal handling of those claims, and related institutional chronology involving Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Paul Cronin.
A contemporaneous June 28, 2017 record further reflects that Dr. Petrou raised the matter with Chair Dr. Reed Dunnick during an annual review meeting, including allegations involving “Nick,” recorded calls through the University switchboard, and asserted connections to Dr. Cronin.
The record later documents:
- repeated OIE efforts to interview Dr. Cronin
- Dr. Dunnick’s acknowledgment that he saw the August 2017 “Nick Bee” email
- and OGC review of recordings and identity-related evidence
Despite those efforts, the identity of “Nick Bee” was never determined.
The memorandum nevertheless documents internal University review involving OIE, departmental leadership, and the Office of the General Counsel.
University of Michigan OIE Memorandum: “Nick Bee” Allegations and Institutional Review
Timeline of Key Events
June 28, 2017 — During an annual review meeting with Drs. Reed Dunnick and Ashok Srinivasan, Dr. Myria Petrou discusses “Nick,” including calls through the University of Michigan switchboard, asserted departmental affiliation, and asserted friendship with Dr. Paul Cronin.
August 2017 — An email attributed to “Nick Bee” circulates within University channels. During his later OIE interview, Dr. Reed Dunnick states that he saw the email and became aware of the rumor involving Dr. Petrou and Dr. Paul Cronin.
August 2017 — The University Office of the General Counsel (OGC), including Kara Morgenstern and Christine Gerdes, undertakes efforts to identify the individual using the name “Nick Bee,” including review of recordings and interviews of physicians with similar names.
March–June 2018 — OIE repeatedly attempts to interview Dr. Paul Cronin regarding the allegations. The memorandum states that eighteen email requests were sent.
July 24, 2018 — OIE interviews Dr. Reed Dunnick regarding the allegations raised by Dr. Petrou.
October 1, 2018 — One day after Dr. Petrou’s resignation, OIE finalizes its memorandum regarding the “Nick Bee” allegations.
Related material: University of Michigan Police Records Following OGC Referral of Dr. Myria Petrou’s Resignation Letter
Institutional Awareness and Request for Investigation
The OIE memorandum reflects that Dr. Myria Petrou reported that an individual known as “Nick Bee” was making allegations involving Dr. Paul Cronin and false assertions of paternity.
The memorandum further states that Dr. Petrou asked Dr. Reed Dunnick to investigate the matter, which he declined to do.
Other contemporaneous records later produced separately reference a June 28, 2017 annual review meeting involving Drs. Dunnick and Srinivasan in which Dr. Petrou discussed:
- “Nick”
- switchboard calls
- asserted departmental affiliation
- and asserted friendship with Dr. Paul Cronin
During his later OIE interview, Dr. Dunnick stated that in August 2017 he saw an email from “Nick Bee” and therefore became aware of the rumor involving Dr. Petrou and Dr. Cronin. He further described the rumor as “incredible.”
OIE Attempts to Interview Dr. Paul Cronin
The memorandum reflects that OIE repeatedly attempted to obtain information from Dr. Paul Cronin, who was identified as having direct knowledge regarding the underlying allegations.
Between March 6, 2018 and June 15, 2018, OIE sent eighteen email requests attempting to schedule an interview with Dr. Cronin.
According to the memorandum, Dr. Cronin responded to a number of those messages but never proposed dates for a meeting.
The memorandum later concluded that further inquiry into several allegations was not possible because Dr. Cronin did not make himself available for interview.
Interview of Dr. Reed Dunnick
On July 24, 2018, OIE interviewed Dr. Reed Dunnick regarding the allegations raised by Dr. Petrou.
According to the memorandum, Dr. Dunnick stated that:
- he had no knowledge whether Dr. Petrou and Dr. Cronin were having an affair
- he saw the August 2017 “Nick Bee” email and became aware of the rumor
- he described the rumor as “incredible”
- he denied spreading the allegations or pressuring Dr. Cronin to make false statements
- he did not recall Dr. Petrou asking him to investigate the matter in June 2017
- and he stated that he would have referred such a matter to Kara Morgenstern in the Office of the General Counsel
Office of General Counsel Review
The memorandum reflects that the University’s Office of the General Counsel possessed:
- an August 14, 2017 email attributed to “Nick Bee”
- recordings of phone conversations involving an individual using that identity
- and text messages from Dr. Cronin regarding the possible identity of “Nick Bee”
The memorandum further states that OGC identified several physicians whose names could correspond to “Nick Bee,” interviewed selected individuals, and compared their voices to the recordings.
According to the memorandum, OGC concluded that the individuals interviewed were not “Nick Bee.”
The identity of “Nick Bee” was not determined.
The memorandum documents multiple OGC review efforts concerning the identity of “Nick Bee,” including possession of recordings, physician interviews, and voice comparisons. The memorandum does not reflect that either Dr. Myria Petrou or Dr. Bradley Foerster were contacted by OGC regarding that review process.
Related Deposition Record
Separate deposition testimony by Dr. Paul Cronin later addressed the “Nick” issue directly.
In sworn testimony, Dr. Cronin stated that he did not have a friend named “Nick,” did not recognize the voice presented in recordings, and denied speaking with any individual named “Nick” about Dr. Bradley Foerster or Dr. Myria Petrou.
Related material: Goosileaks Excerpts (2017) — “Nick,” Paul Cronin, and University of Michigan Institutional Awareness
Later Disclosure of the Memorandum
Dr. Petrou was never provided a copy of the October 1, 2018 OIE memorandum by OIE.
The memorandum was later produced during Dr. Bradley Foerster’s November 2018 Bylaw 5.09 proceedings, together with a separate OIE report involving Duaa Altaee.
Documentation Summary
The University records reflect a documented sequence involving:
- allegations attributed to “Nick Bee”
- recorded conversations and email evidence
- repeated but unsuccessful efforts to interview Dr. Paul Cronin
- OGC identity-review efforts involving recordings and physician interviews
- and an unresolved determination regarding the identity of “Nick Bee”
The memorandum further reflects that neither Dr. Myria Petrou nor Dr. Bradley Foerster are identified as participants in the OGC review process concerning the identity of “Nick Bee,” and that the completed October 1, 2018 memorandum was not provided directly to Dr. Petrou.
Exhibits
Certain identifying information has been redacted pursuant to a court-ordered confidentiality agreement.
Exhibit 1 — University of Michigan OIE Memorandum (October 1, 2018)
Office for Institutional Equity memorandum regarding allegations attributed to “Nick Bee,” OIE review efforts, and related Office of General Counsel activity.
Page 1 — Core Allegations
.png "OIE memorandum page documenting allegations attributed to Nick Bee involving Dr. Myria Petrou and Dr. Paul Cronin")
Opening section of the OIE memorandum.
Page 2 — Request for Investigation
%202.png "OIE memorandum page describing request for investigation of Nick Bee allegations")
Section addressing reported requests for investigation and related allegations.
Page 3 — Attempts to Interview Dr. Paul Cronin
%203.png "OIE memorandum page documenting repeated attempts to interview Dr. Paul Cronin regarding Nick Bee allegations")
OIE outreach efforts to Dr. Paul Cronin.
Page 4 — Interview of Dr. Reed Dunnick
.png "OIE memorandum page documenting interview of Dr. Reed Dunnick regarding Nick Bee communications")
Interview section addressing Dr. Reed Dunnick and the “Nick Bee” communications.
Page 5 — OGC Review of “Nick Bee” Email and Recordings
%204.png "OIE memorandum page describing OGC review of Nick Bee recordings and email evidence")
OGC review of recordings and email evidence.
Page 6 — Assessment
%205.png "OIE memorandum page describing identification review and exclusion of possible Nick Bee individuals")
Identification review and exclusion of possible individuals.
Page 7 — Assessment and Conclusion
%206.png "OIE memorandum assessment and conclusion page addressing unresolved Nick Bee allegations")
Final assessment section of the memorandum.
Exhibit 2 — Contemporaneous June 28, 2017 Record
Excerpt referencing June 28, 2017 annual review discussion involving “Nick.”
Exhibit 3 — November 2018 Dismissal Proceeding Transcript
Excerpt from formal dismissal proceedings against Dr. Bradley Foerster in which Medical Dean’s outside attorney Dan Tukel addressed the University’s handling of allegations concerning “Nick Bee.”
.png "Transcript page showing Dan Tukel statement regarding University investigation of Nick Bee")
%202.png "Transcript page continuing Dan Tukel statement regarding Nick Bee investigation during formal dismissal proceedings")
Transcript excerpt from November 2018 dismissal proceedings.
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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.