DEPARTURE APPARENTLY NOT ANNOUNCED
by Sharon Rondeau
(Sep. 30, 2016) — On Thursday night, The Post & Email learned from a reliable source that a specialty physician with a 30-year career at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) is no longer employed there.
Approximately a month ago, rumors had surfaced that neuropsychiatrist Dr. David Williamson would be departing Walter Reed, possibly within two weeks at that time.
Williamson was medical director of the Inpatient Neuropsychiatry/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program at Walter Reed and reported to be “nationally renowned for his comprehensive and holistic approach to treating the long-term behavioral, relational and emotional symptoms of patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.”
An email from The Post & Email to Walter Reed Public Affairs at the beginning of September asking whether or not the rumors were true went unanswered.
For several years and until June of this year, Williamson treated a U.S. Army soldier whose power of attorney filed a number of complaints against him with both Walter Reed and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (MDHMH).
The power of attorney later related dissatisfaction with the MPPH’s “investigation” which found no reason to probe Williamson’s practices further. The POA was denied access to any documents generated or gathered in making that determination.
On June 7, the POA asked the White House to launch a presidential investigation into the soldier’s treatment and lack of treatment for his reported sexual assault on April 29, 2013 following a similar request made to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office, from which nothing has been heard formally for several months.
The soldier’s family believed that Williamson had over-medicated him and reported that Williamson refused to meet with them to discuss a care plan. The POA additionally said that the soldier’s spiritual adviser was dismissed from his room on more than one occasion because Williamson insisted on speaking with the patient “one-on-one.”
As of this writing, Williamson’s biography remains posted at Walter Reed’s website, and his departure does not appear to have been announced.