SUNY Upstate Medical University reportedly entered into another agreement with a longtime scientist under which the individual would complete an off-campus assignment and receive his annual $137,000 salary for six months, according to syracuse.com.
The agreement, obtained by syracuse.com under a Freedom of Information Act request, shows that Nicholas Greco, PhD, the executive director of the Upstate Cord Blood Bank, left his position on Dec. 21, 2017, and received a six-month off-campus assignment before officially ending his employment June 21, 2018.
Documents obtained by the publication indicate Dr. Greco was the subject of "disciplinary interrogation," but do not explain why. During the assignment, Dr. Greco was paid his annual salary of $137,419 and was required to submit detailed documents regarding his job, the blood bank and accreditation requirements to prepare a strategic plan for the Upstate Cord Blood Bank.
Dr. Greco joined the Syracuse, N.Y.-based institution in 2014 to jump-start its cord blood bank program, which analyzes stem cells in the blood left behind in a baby's umbilical cord for research purposes. SUNY's $15 million cord blood bank opened in February 2017, the report states.
SUNY Upstate has come under scrutiny in recent months for its use of off-campus assignments. Syracuse.com discovered the institution paid the former SUNY Upstate CEO $660,000 to "disappear" from the institution, and uncovered at least six other employees who received similar agreements to work off campus.
In each case, employees were offered the off-campus assignments and subsequently banned from working on SUNY Upstate property, the report states.
SUNY Upstate's interim president told officials last week the institution is scrutinizing how off-campus assignments are used and may recommend changes.
Dr. Greco and the union that represented him in settlement discussions with SUNY Upstate declined to comment to syracuse.com.
To access the full report, click here.