Beaumont Commander Asked About Questionable Cash Awards
William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s Commander, Dennis Doyle’s promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General came in the same week ABC-7 broke the story of questionable cash bonuses at the hospital.
As a result of ABC-7’s findings and probes, the hospital initiated an investigation into those awards. BG Doyle said an officer from the Western Regional Medical Command, which oversees Beaumont, would be conducting the investigation.
“Since this is an ongoing investigation, I really can’t comment on the scope or the depth of the investigation or where she’ll take the investigation,” he responded to ABC-7’s question.
ABC-7 asked why the hospital did not refer the matter to the Inspector General, which may provide a more thorough and objective review. “We feel that this officer is going to conduct an AR 15S6, a formal investigation that she’s more than qualified to conduct. And if there is anything that needs to be investigated, any corrective action that needs to be taken, we have confidence that she’ll be able to do that,” said BG Doyle.
Early in ABC-7’s investigation, Beaumont officials said the Fort Bliss Civilian Personnel Advisory Center reviewed the cash awards. We checked on that. After initially refusing to comment, Fort Bliss officials said they did not review the cash awards and only processed them.
When asked if there should be more oversight into the cash awards, BG Doyle said “until we see where the facts and the evidence take us, I’m not prepared to comment on that.”
ABC-7 asked the commander who would be overseeing the issuance of cash and paid-time-off awards by the hospital’s Department Heads and Supervisors. “We have a policy that’s in effect, we have a procedure that’s in effect, and that will remain pending the outcome of the investigation… I’m not going to discuss the policy at this time until the investigation is complete,” said BG Doyle.
KVIA uncovered records that show the Chief Union Steward, Susana Aguilera, received more $1,750 in cash awards in less than two months.
The documents also show the the wife of one of the hospital’s top administrators started receiving cash bonuses just months after being hired.
In total, Kimberley Wodarz was awarded more than $1,750 and two weeks of paid time off during her first year of employment at the army hospital. She’s the wife of Lt Col Christopher Wodarz, the chief of resource management at William Beaumont. He is the chief adviser to the commander on strategic and financial matters.
The records show all of this happened in the Department of Family Medicine, which is headed by Doctor Melissa Molina. Molina hired her assistant’s son as a nurse consultant the same month he turned 23 years old. Andrew Garcia was hired as a Grade/Level 11, Step/Rate 05, with an annual pay of $71,600. Molina directly hired Garcia, meaning the position was never advertised and no one else had the opportunity to apply for it.
PREVIOUS STORIES:
I-Team: Do Cash and Paid-Time-Off Awards Show Nepotism at Beaumont?.
Nurse Speaks Out About Alleged Favoritism In Beaumont’s Cash Awards.
