Med school official resigns after probe over degree status

Jennifer Knight

Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 9:40 a.m.

Lisa Kaye Davis, the chief financial officer for the University of Nevada School of Medicine, resigned Thursday amid allegations that she lied about her degree when she applied for the job.

The University of Nevada, Reno began looking into Davis' educational background last month after the Las Vegas Sun requested employment documents on Davis.

According to Davis' resume on file with UNR's employment office, Davis claimed she had a master's degree in business administration when she was hired in 1999 but she didn't earn an MBA until 2000.

UNR President John Lilley's announcement of Davis' departure was brief.

"Lisa Davis has resigned her employment from the School of Medicine," Lilley wrote in a letter to the state Board of Regents on Thursday.

Lilley, however, gave no reason for Davis' resignation and could not be reached for comment Thursday. Neither could Davis.

Employment documents obtained by the Sun in November show that when Davis was hired as the chief business officer of MEDSchool Associates North on Dec. 1, 1999, her resume noted an MBA from the University of Montana. The position she was hired for paid $79,250 a year and required a master's degree.

Davis came highly recommended by former medical school dean Robert Daugherty Jr. who wrote a letter in July 1999 on her behalf.

"Lisa Davis recently earned her MBA," Daugherty said in the letter. "We believe she is highly qualified for this appointment and hope that you will approve this request."

The year she was hired, records show Davis was working on her MBA at UNR and was one year away from completing it when she was hired.

After earning her MBA in 2000 from UNR, Davis quickly rose through the ranks in the medical school, eventually moving up to CFO earning $108,000 a year.

"I am not surprised by the resignation," Regent Mark Alden said. "I am aware that a thorough investigation was conducted (by UNR) and it was turned over to the system attorney's office, but what I was perplexed by is that nothing had happened" until now.

In a memo written by Regent Linda Howard Thursday morning, she alleged that a lawyer for the University and Community College System had the results of an investigation on Davis' credentials more than a year ago.

"I just think that her resignation is only scratching the surface," Howard said. "I believe there is a whole lot more than meets the eye."

University system lawyers were not available for comment.