Pros
Most physicians are collegial. Salary is decent.
Kontras
Dr. Patricia (Pattie) Haro, who is the Chair of the Sutter Health East Bay Board of Directors, has frequently demonstrated bias against high performing physicians unprovoked. She is retaliatory, dismissive, and frequently abuses her power to silence dissent under the guise of unfounded “behavioral concerns.” Physicians who raise legitimate safety or workflow issues are met with gaslighting, bad-faith peer reviews, and selective enforcement of policies due to Dr. Haro’s bias. Genuine concerns are met with deflection or personal attacks. Morale is chronically low. Dr. Haro fosters a toxic culture where high-performing physicians are demoralized, undermined, and subjected to character attacks. Rather than supporting excellence, she appears threatened by it. She maintains a clique of allies who consistently close ranks to bully, isolate, or retaliate against those who speak up or stand out. Psychological safety is nonexistent. The culture punishes transparency and favors compliance, even at the expense of patient care. If you are an independent thinker or someone who values integrity and advocacy, be extremely cautious. This is not a supportive place for physicians who want to promote positive changes or are interested in administrative or leadership positions. It is not safe to speak up without being attacked, even when doing so is in the best interest of patient care.