In a letter to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – a graduate and generous supporter of Johns Hopkins University – the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has appealed to Mayor Bloomberg to do what he can to help Darren Klugman, M.D., a distinguished Jewish doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Dr. Klugman is an associate professor of anesthesia/critical care and director of pediatric cardiac critical care at Johns Hopkins.  He opened the first dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care unit at Johns Hopkins in 2022, a program that achieved the best results for patients in the region.

But after some strongly worded, emotional posts on Twitter (now X) immediately after the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, Dr. Klugman became the target of a smear campaign by anti-Israel groups, which pressured Johns Hopkins to terminate him.  Even though Dr. Klugman apologized in writing for his emotional posts, and even though Johns Hopkins has a clear and unambiguous policy reflecting its commitment to the freedom of expression, Johns Hopkins suspended Dr. Klugman last November.  He has been on paid administrative leave ever since, unable to step foot on the campus or see patients.  Johns Hopkins refuses to allow Dr. Klugman to return to his position and, because of the public smear campaign, he has effectively been prevented from pursuing other professional opportunities.

In contrast to Johns Hopkins’ harsh and punishing treatment of Dr. Klugman, the institution has tolerated and imposed no penalty on staff members who have publicly expressed hatred and hostility toward Jews and Israelis.  Unlike Dr. Klugman, these staff members have shown no remorse for their actions.  Yet they remain in their positions at Johns Hopkins, including a staff member who openly threatened to harm “Zionists” – meaning Jews – for whom the staff member was directly responsible.

ZOA respectfully urges Mayor Bloomberg, as well as other Johns Hopkins alumni and supporters, to take whatever steps they can to ensure that Johns Hopkins finally corrects this terrible injustice.  Dr. Klugman should be reinstated without further delay.

Please contact the following leaders at Johns Hopkins to express your support for Dr. Klugman and his reinstatement: