BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's Vice President for External Affairs, Laura Krolczyk, was fired Saturday after an investigation into her private Facebook posts.
The screenshots of anti-Trump Facebook posts by Krolczyk, regarding COVID-19, were shared and criticized on Twitter by a local political consultant.
On Friday night, Michael Caputo tweeted a screenshot of Krolczyk's Facebook post which showed an anti-Trump exchange.
Hillary's former aide Laura Krolczyk deleted all her posts. But don't worry, @DocCandace @RoswellPark I've got screen shots of them. Here, your senior executive spokesman is nastily telling Facebook Trump voters to just chew on Ibuprofen.
— Read/Watch The Ukraine Hoax! 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@MichaelRCaputo) March 28, 2020
This is the executive voice of Roswell. pic.twitter.com/WUGaFpKn57
Shortly after, Roswell tweeted the post "does not reflect the beliefs of our organization."
This comment was made by an individual so please do not attribute it to Roswell Park as it does not reflect the beliefs of our organization.
— Roswell Park (@RoswellPark) March 27, 2020
Saturday, Roswell announced Krolczyk was fired and released the statement below:
"This employee was terminated today after our Human Resources team concluded its investigation. We followed standard procedure, which required that we gather and verify relevant information before taking any disciplinary action.
Dr. Johnson and her team responded with swift and appropriate action. We have always been and continue to be a center serving everyone who needs us. That is core to our mission, our culture and the experience our patients and families can expect every day. This behavior is not tolerated at Roswell Park. If any team members act in a way that does not accord with that commitment, we will take swift and appropriate action, just as we did in this instance."
Lisa LaTrovato, a director at Buffalo-based Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute, has been placed on leave for her comments on the Facebook post.
Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute released the following statement Saturday:
“Yesterday afternoon, Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute became aware of a personal communication that one of our staff members was having on the staff member’s personal social media account. We are disappointed that this took place. The staff member’s personal exchange in no way reflects or represents the thoughts or opinions of the Institute, our leadership, or our Board of Directors. HWI leadership is addressing this regrettable personnel matter directly with the individual involved, who has been placed on administrative leave pending further internal review. Our focus, at all times, and especially during this public health crisis, is solely on advancing scientific research and therapies that can help save and improve lives the world over. Nothing can or will cloud our commitment to improving public health.”
