University of Pittsburgh: Punishment of Cardiology Professor for Academic Research Paper

In August 2020, the University of Pittsburgh revoked Associate Professor of Medicine Norman C. Wang’s teaching privileges following criticism of his paper, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, concerning demographics in the cardiology profession. On December 15, 2020, Wang sued Pitt with help from the Center for Individual Rights. On January 12, 2021, FIRE wrote to Pitt calling for it to rescind Wang’s punishment, explaining that Pitt, a public university bound by the First Amendment and committed to upholding academic freedom, may not punish its professors over its disagreement with their academic writings. On December 15, 2020, Wang and his attorneys at the Center for Individual Rights sued Pitt for violating his free speech rights, among other claims.