A Chicago clinic’s insurer has agreed to pay $2 million to settle two civil lawsuits that accuse a former podiatrist of turning supposed mentorship "shadow" visits into sexually charged encounters, according to the students’ attorneys. The suits name Dr. Asim Qureshi and Michigan Avenue Podiatry and claim that what were billed as hands-on demonstrations for training instead veered into sexually explicit conduct and inappropriate touching. The settlement closes out the women’s civil claims. Qureshi has not been criminally charged, and state regulators suspended his podiatry license last year.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers at Corboy & Demetrio, P.C. announced the deal in a LinkedIn post, saying partner Daniel S. Kirschner secured the $2 million result for the two former students. The firm called the outcome a meaningful resolution for clients who say a trusted mentor used professional access to cross serious lines.
What the lawsuits say
According to court filings, Qureshi allegedly began reaching out to students interested in health care fields via LinkedIn on June 7, 2024. The complaints state that one student went to a downtown Chicago office on June 18, while another visited a northwest side location on June 29. Filed under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, the suits claim Qureshi made sexually explicit comments and touched the women on the buttocks, thighs, and groin while presenting the contact as part of physical therapy instruction.
Their attorney Dan Kirschner told FOX 32 Chicago that Qureshi would "cold message" students on LinkedIn and suggest they connect for shadowing opportunities. Kirschner also said he believed the behavior would have escalated had it not been reported and stopped.
State licensing action
Records from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation show that Qureshi’s podiatric license was indefinitely suspended in January 2025 for a minimum of three years. Regulators cited unprofessional conduct, sexual harassment, failure to maintain patient confidentiality and unsanitary office conditions. The department’s enforcement bulletin notes that the discipline followed an inspection and administrative proceedings, and the suspension will remain on his record while the order is in force.
Investigation and settlement details
FOX 32 Chicago reports that the civil cases were resolved through a $2 million payout from Michigan Avenue Podiatry’s insurance carrier, rather than from Qureshi personally. As part of its Unit 32 reporting, the station also located videos from a hospital in Pakistan that identify Qureshi as a consultant podiatrist.
FOX 32 further noted that Qureshi’s name and profile no longer appear on the Michigan Avenue Podiatry website. According to the station, requests for comment from Qureshi’s attorneys and from the overseas hospital that featured him in its videos were not returned. Kirschner told the outlet that both women have since graduated and continued on in their careers.
What this means for students
In its statement, Corboy & Demetrio, P.C. framed the settlement as a measure of accountability for students who believed they were signing up for professional shadowing, not abuse. The firm highlighted the need for clear oversight whenever students are observing clinicians in private practice settings.
For schools and students lining up observation hours, attorneys say this case is a pointed reminder to vet a provider’s credentials, insist on structured and supervised experiences, and flag any troubling conduct to licensing authorities and campus officials sooner rather than later.
