Fate of Albany Med CEO unclear as 30-day leave expires - Times Union

The 30-Day Deadline Arrives for Albany Med Leadership

Daniel T. Pickett III has been on leave as president and chief executive officer of Albany Med Health System since Oct. 3, four days after the public learned an ex-girlfriend had accused him of sexual assault. Pickett has denied the allegation. As that 30-day paid leave period expires Monday, many questions remain unanswered regarding how the regional health network plans to manage the ongoing fallout.

The health system board operates Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, and regional hospitals in Saratoga, Hudson, and Glens Falls. Officials placed Pickett on leave following public accusations made during civil court proceedings by his former girlfriend. Pickett categorically denied the claim, characterizing it as an attempt to damage his reputation, and subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against her.

Board Review Results and Transparency Concerns

The board scheduled a Wednesday meeting to discuss the findings of an independent review. Global financial and risk advisory firm Kroll conducted the assessment to evaluate the allegations and their potential impact on Pickett’s leadership of the roughly 16,000-employee health system. System spokesperson Liz Benjamin stated it remains unclear whether the board intends to release a copy of the Kroll review to the public or staff.

The investigation itself drew scrutiny from staff due to Kroll’s history. Harvey Weinstein and his legal counsel previously hired the firm to gather information on women who accused him of sexual misconduct and on investigating journalists.

Staff members and union representatives voiced broader concerns about institutional transparency. Anna Oman, a spokesperson for SEIU 1199, noted that Albany Med’s board does not publish agendas or broadcast meetings, unlike some nonprofit hospital systems. The whole system should be looking at how the board members move forward, Oman said, emphasizing the need for solid leadership and community trust.

Worker Advocacy and Public Reactions

To mark the 30-day deadline, a group of nurses planned a Monday morning gathering outside Albany Medical Center Hospital. Emergency room nurse Sara Dragula organized the event after hearing from at least a dozen employees who expressed fear of retaliation and concerns regarding the review process. Dragula stated that medical professionals should not feel apprehensive about demanding a trauma-informed investigation into leadership behavior concerning sexual assault.

The controversy first erupted when Pickett and his former girlfriend appeared at a Sept. 29 court hearing over property ownership from a Manhattan apartment they shared during a 15-month relationship. Court documents and testimony show the ex-girlfriend alleged Pickett forced himself on her in the apartment during the early-morning hours of Feb. 15, 2025. Pickett’s attorneys countered that the woman coordinated with his ex-wife and another former partner to ruin his professional reputation. All three women denied any such coordination.

Board chair Raimundo C. Archibold Jr. previously told employees in a system-wide email that the ongoing legal disputes between two adults did not involve the hospital network itself. Several staff members criticized the remark as tone-deaf. Bill Van Slyke, a former Albany Med board member, called the chairman’s initial statement difficult to reconcile with the responsibilities of overseeing a major regional health network.

Following Archibold’s email, Albany Med retained public relations firm Marathon Strategies on Oct. 2. Matthew Jones, executive vice president and general counsel who has worked at the system since 2017, was appointed acting CEO when Pickett’s leave began on Oct. 3. Pickett, a longtime Capital Region entrepreneur and former board chairman, assumed the top executive role last year following a sudden leadership change replacing former CEO Dennis McKenna.