Dr. Sharon Ashley

Dr. Sharon Ashley, an anesthesiologist, has been in charge of King/Drew’s doctor-training programs since 2001. During her tenure, accreditors have forced the closure of training programs in radiology, surgery and neonatology. Accreditors rate King/Drew’s overall supervision of its residents among the U.S.’ worst teaching hospitals.

Yet last fiscal year, Ashley was among King/Drew’s highest-paid employees, earning $333,341, with her academic stipend.

Ashley has had other troubles. In a discrimination lawsuit, lawyers for a middle-aged doctor contended that Ashley had urged his removal from a residency program because of his age, causing him to have a heart attack. In 2000, a jury ruled in the man’s favor, against King/Drew and its affiliated medical school. The county settled with his family for $3.8 million in 2002, after he had died.

In 1996, the Medical Board of California gave Ashley two years’ probation for not properly supervising 14 physician assistants, including five not licensed in California. Though this involved private clinics, she was working at King/Drew at the time.

Ashley referred questions to attorney Mark Ravis. In a letter to The Times, he said that her medical board sanction resulted from a “technical violation” and that the jury’s decision in the discrimination case was wrong. Ravis praised Ashley’s accomplishments, saying she is eminently qualified for her position.