Former HMS Professor Admits Embezzlement

Donald J. Kirks , a former Harvard Medical School (HMS) professor, pled guilty Tuesday to embezzling more than $70,000--much of it from a foundation he headed for doctors who treat children with cancer.

Kirks had been Kirkpatrick professor of radiology at HMS and chair of the radiology department at Children's Hospital in Boston--the primary pediatric teaching hospital of HMS--before allegations about embezzling forced him out in 1998.

Kirks had been the chair and president of the Children's Hospital Radiology Foundation, a non-profit organization of doctors that provide radiology services to children at the hospital.

The U.S. Attorney's Office brought several charges against Kirks last week, the most serious the act of "double-dipping," or billing the same expenses to two different organizations and then getting reimbursement from both organizations. Kirks's embezzling took place during 1995.

According to a press announcement from the attorney's office, prosecutors found that Kirks had submitted vouchers to the foundation and the hosting organization when traveling to speaking engagements. He then asked each organization to pay him and pocketed the additional reimbursement.

In this fashion, he double-billed trips to Vienna, Bombay, Hong Kong, Orlando, Versailles and Santa Fe. He also traveled to Maui twice and Chicago six times.

In addition, Kirks used the foundation's American Express Card to charge several expenses, which he also double-billed, when traveling. Kirks used the credit card mainly for entertainment purposes and golfing trips.

The press release also says Kirks sold Boston Bruins tickets purchased under his direction by the foundation, keeping most of the profits.

On June 7, Kirks will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Edward Harrington. Although the maximum fine for such a crime is seven years and fines up to $250,000, attorney's office spokesperson Samantha L. Martin said the office will recommend one year in prison and a fine of $30,000.

Kirks was a member of many medical organizations, including the American College of Radiology, the Roentgen Ray Society, the Massachusetts Radiological Society and the European Society of Pediatric Radiology. One of these organizations, the Radiological Society of Massachusetts, was a victim of Kirks' embezzlements, as he billed them up to $64,000 which had already been paid by the foundation.

Neither Kirks nor his lawyer were available for comment yesterday.