Former Excela Health Latrobe medical education coordinator accused in thefts
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The former coordinator of Excela Latrobe Hospital’s student programs was accused this week of stealing more than $75,000 from the medical residency program and the Andrew Bagby Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Suzanne N. Strickler, 37, of New Stanton was charged with 31 counts of theft, 11 counts of forgery and one count of receiving stolen property.
Westmoreland County Detective Jason Napier alleges that, between July 2018 and December 2019, Strickler forged thousands of dollars in checks and took monetary donations earmarked for scholarships as part of the family residency program at the hospital in Latrobe, the annual resident graduation dinners in June and the Bagby scholarship fund for her personal use.
Strickler and her private attorney, Samir Sarna of Pittsburgh, did not return calls seeking comment.
According to Napier, Strickler diverted 11 $1,000 Bagby scholarships intended for students who had completed four-week rotations in the hospital’s medical residency program for her own use by forging her own name and depositing the checks into her personal account.
One of the residents, Helena Paddle, attempted for more than a year to collect the scholarship money by contacting Strickler, “corresponding back and forth, but the student gave up,” Napier wrote in court papers.
Multiple individuals reported that their $45 per person contributions to attend the hospital’s family residency graduation dinner in June 2019 were deposited into Strickler’s personal bank account instead of the scholarship program.
“Dr. David Wyszomierski wrote a check for $45 to attend the graduation dinner on June 18, 2019. Dr. Wyszomierski hand-delivered the check to Susanne Strickler,” Napier wrote.
Napier said Wyszomierski learned the check had been altered for deposit into Strickler’s personal account for $4,500.
Napier alleges investigators seized five other copies of checks forged from Wyszomierski original check ranging between $2,000 and $850 that were cashed and deposited into Strickler’s bank account.
Hospital officials also inquired last year about monthly scholarship payments from the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians that appeared to be owed to two students.
Napier alleges in court documents that Strickler forged her name on an altered check from the academy for $9,694 in January 2019 and deposited it into her personal account.
Court documents said Detective Ray Dupilka and Napier met last month with Strickler in Sarna’s law office in Pittsburgh, where she admitted the thefts.
“Mrs. Strickler advised that, during the period of these thefts, she was having a rough time with finances. Mrs. Strickler indicated that she is willing to make restitution,” Napier wrote.
The Bagby scholarship fund was set up after the Nov. 5, 2001, murder of Dr. Andrew Bagby, 28, a medical resident at the hospital who was shot and killed by Dr. Shirley Turner. Turner, an obsessed former girlfriend, lured him to Keystone State Park in Derry Township, where he was shot.
The scholarship was established by Bagby’s parents, David and Kate Bagby of Sunnyvale, Calif.
Tom Chakurda, vice president of communications at Excela, said the hospital would have no comment.
“We are cooperating with authorities, but we cannot comment further as it’s an ongoing legal matter,” Chakurda said.
Napier said Strickler had held the job since December 2017.
Strickler is scheduled to appear before Unity District Judge Michael Mahady for arraignment Nov. 2, according to court dockets.