HJBR May/Jun 2019

that “under all of the circumstances” it did “not seem realistic” for her to stay at UIC in a different role — specifically, an untenured position that would have allowed her to still treat patients. Later in February, Pavuluri submitted retirement paperwork indicating her last day will be June 30. She will collect a pen- sion and will receive a $35,512 vacation pay- out, records show. In spite of the controversy, Pavuluri has passionate defenders. One woman, whose 21-year-old daughter has been treated by Pavuluri since she was 11, called Pavuluri a “lifesaver.” She said her daughter had been hospitalized four times before seek- ing treatment from Pavuluri, but hasn’t been hospitalized since. She participated in a research trial that did not involve lithium. “It breaks my heart to think someone would speak poorly of her or cast judge- ment on her,” said the mother, who did not want to be identified to protect her daugh- ter’s privacy. “I know people have to be held to what they are supposed to do, but never would she put a child in harm’s way for the sake of research. Never, ever.” Another parent, Rebecca Sikorski, didn’t know about any of these concerns when she took her 12-year-old daughter to see Pavu- luri toward the end of last summer. She was impressed that the clinic was promoted as being involved in “cutting edge” research. “If their main practitioner of bipolar disorder is being investigated, I would have wanted to know that,” she said. At her daughter’s last appointment in Feb- ruary, Pavuluri told them she was retiring fromUIC and hoped to open her own prac- tice in the Gold Coast neighborhood. When asked why she is retiring, Pavuluri said in the interview that UIC officials are upset about repaying the grant money. She said the years of investigation have been “traumatic.” “I feel it is best if I give up my wonderful ability to really do the best I could. I tried really hard,” she said, choking back tears. She said it was difficult to talk about the issue. “It is giving me PTSD.” n