The former president of UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute has filed a lawsuit against the institute and Pittsburgh-based UPMC, alleging retaliation after raising concerns about a conflict of interest involving the system’s CEO.
Here are seven things to know:
1. Hemal Gada, MD, filed the lawsuit March 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, according to court documents reviewed by Becker’s. Dr. Gada served as president of the Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Central PA from June 2020 until he was terminated on Aug. 13, 2025, according to the complaint.
2. Dr. Gada alleges retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Pennsylvania’s Whistleblower Law. According to the complaint, the Title VII claim stems from his complaints about alleged racist texts between two physicians, while the whistleblower claim stems from his complaints about an alleged conflict involving UPMC CEO Leslie Davis’ paid Edwards Lifesciences board role and alleged use of the UPMC jet for Edwards board meetings.
3. Dr. Gada has been a vocal critic of Edwards Lifesciences’ clinical trial data regarding transparency and began posting about it on LinkedIn in December 2023. He later learned an external complaint prompted an investigation into his social media use, which found no wrongdoing, according to the complaint.
4. In January 2025, Dr. Gada learned Ms. Davis had served on the Edwards Lifesciences board since May 2024. He issued a formal complaint to UPMC’s chief legal officer, stating that “the potentially significant conflict of interest” appeared largely undisclosed. He also said the medical device company sells devices to UPMC and has engaged in multimillion-dollar transactions with the system. Dr. Gada also alleged that Ms. Davis used the UPMC jet to attend Edwards board meetings, according to the complaint.
Ms. Davis still serves as a board member, according to the company’s website.
5. Dr. Gada raised a separate complaint in late April 2025 regarding texts between two UPMC physicians who opposed creating an interventional cardiology fellowship. The texts “included comments indicating that patients do not like to be treated by brown physicians with accents and wishing luck with the effort to replace white doctors with brown ones,” according to the complaint.
6. Dr. Gada was informed Aug. 3 of a human resources investigation into his professional conduct and was placed on a two-week paid suspension. The institute held an emergency board meeting Aug. 13 — which Dr. Gada, board president, was not invited to attend — where the board allegedly voted to terminate him without the required supermajority threshold, according to the complaint. He received a call that evening informing him he was terminated with cause.
7. Dr. Gada is asking the court to declare the defendants’ actions unlawful and to order his reinstatement to his previous position. He is also seeking compensation for lost wages and reimbursement for lost pension, Social Security, experience, training opportunities and other benefits. He is seeking front pay if reinstatement is not feasible, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
Becker’s has reached out to UPMC for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available.
At the Becker's 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference, taking place June 11-13 in Chicago, spine surgeons, orthopedic leaders and ASC executives will come together to explore minimally invasive techniques, ASC growth strategies and innovations shaping the future of outpatient spine care. Apply for complimentary registration now.
