A former cardiologist who once led UPMC’s Heart and Vascular Institute in central Pennsylvania is taking his former employer to federal court in Pittsburgh, saying he was fired after calling out what he saw as a conflict of interest involving the health system’s chief executive. In a newly filed complaint, he asks a judge to give him his job back, award monetary damages, and hold both UPMC and a regional cardiovascular affiliate liable.
According to TribLIVE, the suit was filed by Dr. Hemal Gada. The complaint says Gada reported concerns to UPMC’s Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Audit Services after learning that CEO Leslie C. Davis had accepted a paid board seat at medical device maker Edwards Lifesciences. The filing, submitted this week in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, alleges that his report set off a chain of retaliatory actions.
UPMC’s own materials identify Gada as a prominent system leader before his departure. The health system lists him as president of the Heart and Vascular Institute in Central Pennsylvania and an interventional cardiologist practicing across the region. UPMC’s provider profile and related news materials also describe him as a leader of the regional structural heart program.
As outlined in the complaint and summarized by TribLIVE, Gada alleges that internal scrutiny of his LinkedIn activity ramped up around the same time multiple UPMC leaders viewed his profile. He says UPMC launched an investigation into his social media use in late 2024, placed him on a two-week suspension, and then terminated him 10 days after that suspension ended. The filing further claims Gada filed a human resources complaint in April 2025 over racist text messages allegedly sent by two colleagues, and that he later faced retaliation for opposing racial harassment.
SEC Filing Lays Out CEO’s Board Pay
Edwards Lifesciences’ proxy materials show that Davis was nominated to its board in 2024, with director compensation for that year including about $85,000 in cash and roughly $260,000 in stock awards. Those figures appear in a proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which the lawsuit cites as the factual basis for the alleged conflict of interest. The specific disclosure is contained in the Edwards Lifesciences proxy statement.
Whistleblower Law Takes Center Stage
Gada’s lawsuit includes a claim under Pennsylvania’s Whistleblower Law, and he is asking the court for reinstatement as well as monetary damages. The state statute provides that employees who, in good faith, report potential wrongdoing may be entitled to remedies such as reinstatement, back pay, and other damages if they can prove retaliation. Courts and legal summaries spell out how those cases are evaluated and what remedies are available under the law, and legal analyses of Pennsylvania’s Whistleblower Law offer additional background on the statute and existing precedent.
The case is now pending in the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh. If the claims move forward, the filings could invite closer scrutiny of how large health systems handle executive service on corporate boards while overseeing extensive provider networks.
