Syerra Lea, a family care physician with 12 years of experience at Banner Health’s Gilbert location, was removed from her clinical duties in early August. Management ended her patient-facing responsibilities 86 days before her scheduled departure date, requiring her to surrender her laptop and badge and exit the facility.
Lea stated that she was prevented from completing patient workups or following up on diagnoses, and she did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to her patients.
Lea filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board one week prior to her removal. In the filing, she alleged that the company retaliated against her for raising a scheduling conflict in a clinic group chat. To assist with the complaint, she retained an attorney from the Union for American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD).
Although the company maintained her pay and insurance until her 90-day notice period concluded, it barred her from entering the building. Lea believes her association with UAPD contributed to the decision, noting that leadership had previously been unaware of broader organizational efforts among Banner physicians.
Physicians at Banner Health are currently working to form a union, which would become the only physicians’ union in Arizona. The effort involves more than 270 eligible practitioners, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and specialists in family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.
UAPD represents over 7,000 physicians nationwide and has established more than 30 bargaining units across various healthcare settings in states such as California and New Mexico.
