July 15 and July 20, 2017 HHS-OIG Complaints: NIH Grant Reporting, University of Michigan Radiology Billing Practices, and Subsequent Federal Records
Before later FBI chronology involving University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Police Department, and federal record coordination, contemporaneous HHS-OIG records separately document a July 15, 2017 hotline complaint submitted by Dr. Myria Petrou regarding NIH Grant R01 NS082304 and co-principal investigator Dr. Robert Welsh.
The complaint alleged that Dr. Welsh had not fulfilled NIH contractual obligations and had not performed grant-related analysis work for multiple years despite salary support associated with the grant.
HHS-OIG records later identified the matter as “administratively closed” on October 5, 2017. Dr. Petrou was never informed that the complaint had been administratively closed.
July 15, 2017 fax submission by Dr. Myria Petrou to the HHS-OIG hotline concerning NIH Grant R01 NS082304.
July 14, 2021 HHS-OIG FOIA production identifying the July 15, 2017 NIH Grant R01 NS082304 complaint as “administratively closed” on October 5, 2017.
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HHS-OIG metadata identifying the original July 15, 2017 hotline tip.
On July 20, 2017, a complaint regarding radiology medical billing concerns at the University of Michigan was submitted to HHS-OIG under Dr. Myria Petrou’s name without her knowledge, with Dr. Bradley Foerster identified as a witness.
The complaint substantially mirrored a separate complaint prepared for University of Michigan OGC concerning radiology billing practices.
The underlying billing concerns originated with Dr. Paul Cronin, who asked Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou to support approaching University of Michigan OGC regarding the issues. Dr. Cronin expressed concern about retaliation involving Radiology leadership, including Dr. Ella Kazerooni, who was implicated in aspects of the reported billing concerns. Dr. Aine Kelly separately had a longstanding public dispute involving Dr. Kazerooni.
The complaint was not discovered by Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou until 2024 through subsequent federal records and FOIA disclosures.
Based on the submission timestamp and contemporaneous circumstances surrounding the University of Michigan OGC complaint, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Petrou concluded that neither they nor Dr. Paul Cronin submitted the HHS-OIG complaint, as all three were together at the time the submission was made. Dr. Aine Kelly separately possessed the University of Michigan OGC complaint and was apart from the others during the period corresponding to the submission timestamp.
When later asked about the submission, Dr. Kelly stated that she did not know whether her computer had been compromised.
Subsequent FOIA requests to HHS-OIG did not identify investigative findings concerning the underlying medical billing allegations.
The chronology is notable.
A July 15, 2017 HHS-OIG complaint directly concerning NIH Grant R01 NS082304 was later identified as “administratively closed,” with Dr. Petrou never informed of the closure.
Five days later, a separate July 20, 2017 HHS-OIG complaint concerning radiology medical billing practices at the University of Michigan was submitted under Dr. Petrou’s name without her knowledge. That complaint simultaneously referenced alleged NIH and VA grant-related misconduct involving R01 NS082304 and VA Merit funding, alleged retaliation against Drs. Foerster and Petrou, and requested whistleblower protection.
Subsequent FOIA requests to HHS-OIG did not identify investigative findings concerning the underlying medical billing allegations.
July 20, 2017 HHS-OIG medical billing complaint and contemporaneous allegations concerning retaliation, NIH/VA grant reporting, and whistleblower protection.
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Related materials:
- Dr. Myria Petrou Correspondence with Dr. Paul Cronin and Dr. Aine Kelly Regarding HHS-OIG Complaint Submitted Under Her Name
- HHS-OIG FOIA Response – No Records Located for Medical Billing / MiChart Investigations at University of Michigan Radiology (2017–2020)
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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.