HCMC faces allegations of racial bias, harassment, discrimination

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect additional review and clarification of source material following concerns raised by Hennepin Healthcare. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder remains committed to accurate, community-centered reporting.

Community leaders, health care workers, and civil rights attorneys gathered outside Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) on July 10 to demand a full, independent investigation into what they describe as a toxic workplace culture fueled by racial and gender discrimination, retaliation, and systemic inequity.

Led by civil rights attorney Sellano L. Simmons, the press conference highlighted firsthand testimonies from current and former HCMC employees, many of whom chose to remain anonymous due to fear of professional backlash. Simmons and fellow civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong called on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners to initiate a third-party investigation free from the influence of HCMC leadership.

“We are hopeful that the Hennepin County Board will take accountability for what is happening and follow through on Attorney Simmons’ call,” said Levy Armstrong. “This is about people’s lives, careers and dignity.”

Former director speaks out

While he was not at the press conference on July 10, among those who came forward is Farji Shaheer, a former employee of 23 years who says he experienced years of discrimination while working at HCMC. Shaheer served as the director of the hospital’s Next Step program, the state’s first hospital-based violence intervention initiative, created to support survivors of gun violence and their families.

Many workers remained anonymous or declined to comment due to alleged fear of retaliation.

Shaheer described a pattern of retaliation that began after he started advocating for equitable treatment of patients and highlighting systemic failures. “A majority of the individuals who were African American, Native, or people of color were treated unfairly, especially in psychiatric care,” he said. “They were often medicated and admitted against their will because of miscommunication between staff and patients.”

In 2018, Shaheer said, the homicide rate in Minneapolis dropped to 28, in part due to the success of his program. But as the program gained visibility, internal tensions rose. He alleges that a colleague used his program’s funding to launch the hospital’s internal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, while simultaneously pushing him out.

“Every time I spoke out against injustice, I was met with retaliation instead of support,” said Shaheer. He says he was demoted from program director to senior violence intervention specialist based on what he called “false narratives and fabricated claims.”

By 2023, Shaheer said, leadership asked him to create consent forms that would violate HIPAA protections, allegedly to access the personal data of gunshot victims without proper authorization. “I was being asked to betray the very people I had promised to protect,” he said. “That was my breaking point.”

He left the institution in June 2023 and now runs a nonprofit called Innovative Solutions, which continues to support survivors of violence and expose harmful practices within health care systems.

Shaheer said he hopes the current spotlight leads to lasting change. “People inside that hospital are being traumatized, patients and employees. We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not punished for telling the truth.”

Not an isolated incident

Reading from a written statement submitted by a current Black employee within Hennepin Healthcare’s health equity department, Levy Armstrong outlined similar concerns. The employee described being excluded from decision-making, denied merit increases, and forced to take mental health leave due to workplace hostility.

“What is particularly troubling,” the employee wrote, “is that my experience is not an isolated incident.”

Another anonymous employee, whose statement was read aloud by advocate Andrew Freck, said they faced harassment after raising budget concerns related to interpreter services under the equity department.

Nathan, a 15-year union employee in inpatient psychiatry, described being investigated for the “tone of his voice” after expressing concern over restraint use on Black patients. “Instead of addressing the disparities, they tried to silence me,” he said.

Eiko Mizushima, the former executive chair of the hospital’s Asian Collective, shared her story of harassment and retaliation after reporting misconduct by an executive. “If you report harassment by someone in leadership, their friends won’t look closely,” she said.

A current medical assistant and union steward added: “If you’re white, you’re treated fairly. If you’re Black or Hispanic, you’re treated partially. Many just quit due to retaliation. It’s real.”

A call for accountability

Simmons originally submitted a formal request for investigation to the Hennepin County Board on May 9. The board’s inaction, he said, prompted the press event.

“Let me be clear,” Simmons said. “The investigation we’re asking for is not only a legal imperative, it is a moral one. The public is watching. The workforce is waiting. History will remember how you respond.”

Speakers emphasized that these allegations reflect institutional failures, not isolated HR issues. They closed the event with a call for “justice over control, equity over hierarchy, healing over harm.”

“We’re not just calling out injustice,” Simmons said. “We’re calling forth a better future… one where care, not control, is the foundation of this hospital’s culture. Because no one should be punished for doing the right thing.”

Institutional response

In a statement issued July 11, Hennepin Healthcare acknowledged the concerns raised at the press conference and reiterated its commitment to equity and accountability. The hospital confirmed that an independent investigation was already underway, conducted by an external firm in collaboration with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

“We take these and any allegations of racism, bias, or discrimination seriously and respond accordingly,” the statement read.

While specifics of the investigation remain confidential due to its active status, Hennepin Healthcare said it has “worked hard to foster collaboration and communication with both union and non-union team members,” including through expanded meeting formats and reporting systems.

The statement also highlighted existing structures such as a compliance hotline, dedicated reporting channels, and equity-focused coaching as part of its ongoing cultural change efforts. “We welcome improvements to ensure our teams are empowered and supported in reporting their experiences,” the statement concluded.

Continued organizing

Community leaders vowed to continue organizing, pressuring the County Board, and amplifying stories like Shaheer’s to ensure transparency and accountability within one of Minnesota’s largest health care institutions.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.

Editor’s Note (Updated August 7, 2025):
Following the publication of this article on July 21, 2025, Hennepin Healthcare and the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder engaged in follow-up correspondence to clarify key facts and provide additional context.

• Correction: The article initially referred to Farji Shaheer as the director of HCMC’s Next Step program. Public personnel data from Hennepin Healthcare confirms that Shaheer served in various roles within the program, including Program Manager (July 2018 – June 2019), Youth Program Specialist Sr (June 2019 – November 2020), and Violence Prevention Specialist (November 2020 – April 2024). He was not listed as the program’s director.
• Hennepin Healthcare has confirmed that its System Board has formally requested an independent, impartial, and comprehensive investigation into allegations of systemic racism at the institution. The investigation will be conducted by outside investigators with full support from hospital leadership. The hospital’s updated statement on the matter can be viewed here.
• In response to Shaheer’s claims of being asked to create HIPAA-violating consent forms, Hennepin Healthcare stated it complies with all state and federal privacy laws and only shares patient information with proper authorization.
• Regarding program funding, Hennepin Healthcare clarified that the Next Step program is supported by external grant funding from state, city, and federal sources. Since 2018, the program’s budget has increased by $1.45 million, and hospital leadership has also advocated for Medicaid reimbursement for hospital-based violence prevention efforts.

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is committed to accurate, fair, and community-centered reporting. We appreciate Hennepin Healthcare’s willingness to clarify these points and remain dedicated to ongoing transparency and journalistic integrity.