CLEVELAND (WJW) – An exhaustive 22-month investigation by the Ohio Auditor of State has cleared Dr. Akram Boutros, the former CEO of The MetroHealth System, of any wrongdoing related to his compensation.
That’s according to a press release from Boutros’ attorney.
The report, obtained by the FOX 8 I-Team, sharply criticizes the MetroHealth Board for its failure in “effectively” overseeing the CEO’s compensation.
Dr. Boutros was fired as the CEO of MetroHealth in November of 2022.
The board said at the time that an independent investigation found Boutros gave himself $1.9 million in bonuses without disclosing it to the board.
But the auditor’s report cleared Boutros saying the independent investigation was incomplete.
“Based on the special audit procedures and investigation, the Auditor of State was not able to determine whether Dr. Boutros had proper authorization to receive the SPBVC, as there was reasonable doubt based on the information gathered. We concluded that while Dr. Boutros did not share the development and management of the SPBVC program directly with the Board, he did share information with Findley Davies, which was tasked with reviewing executive compensation matters and reporting directly to the Board. However, we were unable to identify any supporting documentation for overt authorization by the Board for Dr. Boutros’ participation in the SPBVC. Additionally, our work concluded the Board did not effectively oversee the CEO’s compensation as his total compensation was processed through the payroll system, which appears not to have been reviewed by either the Board or the compensation consultants, thus directly contributing to its unawareness about the SPBVC program.”
Ohio Auditor of State Report on Dr. Boutros and MetroHealth
Kevin Spellacy and James Wooley represented Dr. Boutros.
“The Auditor of State, the agency with the statutory authority to determine whether there has been a wrongful expenditure of public funds, conducted a thorough two-year investigation and did not find misappropriation or concealment by Dr. Boutros,” Wooley said in a press release. “This is a man who led MetroHealth to remarkable success and deserved far better than the public smear campaign he endured.”
Wooley further criticized MetroHealth’s Board for publicly accusing Dr. Boutros of criminal activity based on a flawed report, which he said ultimately “destroyed Dr. Boutros’ reputation, livelihood, and even his health.”
Dr. Boutros, who led MetroHealth for a decade, expressed relief and gratitude following the release of the Auditor’s report.
“I am gratified that the Auditor of State’s comprehensive investigation has confirmed the truth about my compensation and proves that I have done nothing wrong,” said Dr. Boutros said in a statement. “Despite how my tenure ended, my 10 years at MetroHealth were the most gratifying of my career. I love the staff and patients and am honored to have led a team that significantly improved healthcare in Cuyahoga County, and shepherded MetroHealth to become the most socially responsible health system in Ohio.”
Boutros filed suit against MetroHealth following his termination saying he was wrongfully discharged. FOX 8 has learned that Boutros dropped his lawsuit in December of 2023.
The Ohio Auditor of State’s investigation, which began in early 2022, concluded that while the Board failed in its oversight duties, Dr. Boutros’ actions were within reasonable bounds and did not constitute criminal behavior.
The I-Team has reached out to MetroHealth for a response to the findings.
MetroHealth also faces a lawsuit from Dr. Airica Steed, who replaced Boutros as CEO at MetroHealth.
Steed was let go in August of 2024 and says she was also wrongfully terminated. Her suit was filed in September of 2024.
