LAKEPORT — The winner of the 2007 Stars Humanitarian Award and renowned local physician Tony Veletto is no longer employed at the Lake County Tribal Health clinic, the Record-Bee learned Tuesday, but the exact circumstances of his abrupt departure remained in doubt as the Record-Bee was going to press Wednesday evening.
Three different calls to the Lake County Tribal Health clinic in Lakeport by the Record-Bee did not yield a clear answer.
When asked if Veletto had been fired, Administrative Director Rob Otome said, “I cannot comment on that over the phone,” and promptly hung up. A return phone call went to an answering machine, and did not receive a response.
A visit to the clinic was unproductive, as Otome was reportedly first in a meeting, then unable to talk to reporters an hour later.
Veletto was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award, also known as the Marla Ruzicka award, at the Stars of Lake County gala in March 2007. for his extensive involvement with the clinic.
According to the Medical Board of California, his licence was issued in 1985 and is still active. No disciplinary action is listed; such disciplinary action does not necessarily include hiring or firing from one facility. Complaints or disciplinary action must be filed with the board, but may take up to a month to be reflected on a physician”s license.
Danielle Jackson, a Nice resident who is a member of the Habematola Pomo tribe of Upper Lake, expressed her concern about his status Wednesday. “I saw Dr. Veletto on Monday. I actually saw him until 12:30 a.m. and as far as I knew everything was fine.”
“He brought me back from being dead almost,” said Jackson, who has been a weekly patient of Dr. Veletto for the past two years. “He was in great spirits. I planned to see him next month,” said Jackson. “It”s got our native American community in an uproar.”
A Tribal Health staffer who wanted to remain anonymous for job security”s sake said, “The staff misses him, and wants him back.”
The anonymous staffer also reported that the clinic serves more than 7,000 patients, and since Veletto was asked to leave on Monday, the clinic had been “inundated with calls” about the matter.
Reportedly a petition is circulating to try to bring Veletto back, but as of press time, that information could not be confirmed.
Editor”s note: Record-Bee News Editor Aura Thomas and Managing Editor Rick Kennedy contributed to this report.
