Dr. Dalton Renick had worked for Carilion Clinic in Roanoke and for New Beginnings Pediatrics in Blacksburg, according to those two organizations.
byEmily Schabacker
The Virginia Board of Medicine has suspended the medical license of a pediatrician who worked in Roanoke and Blacksburg following allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior that took place during patient visits.
Dr. Dalton Renick, 32, was employed at a “Virginia clinic” during the period of the investigation, which spanned from August 2021 to February 2024, according to the document from the Virginia Board of Medicine. A media relations representative at Carilion Clinic confirmed that Renick had been employed at Carilion Children’s Pediatric Medicine but was fired from the Roanoke-based hospital system in February. Until recently, he had worked at New Beginnings Pediatrics in Blacksburg, according to a Facebook post by the organization.
A recent post on the New Beginnings Facebook page stated that the leadership at the practice was not aware of the allegations against Renick until the Virginia Department of Health Professionals released its investigation.
“Effective immediately Dr. Renick is no longer employed or has any association with New Beginnings Pediatrics,” the post read. “While at this time, we have not received any complaints at New Beginnings, but we are taking this seriously and will cooperate with the investigation as needed. He will no longer be seeing any of our patients. We remain committed to providing the best care possible to our families and will protect our patients and their families at all costs.”
The Virginia Board of Medicine is the regulatory arm of the Virginia Department of Health Professions. Investigators with the DHP manage most routine complaints filed by patients and other providers and work for multiple regulatory boards. The Board of Medicine issues disciplinary action against physicians, according to Christian and Barton, a Richmond law firm with expertise in health care.
The Board of Medicine concluded that “a substantial danger to public health or safety warrants [Renick’s suspension],” according to the case documents.
Parents reported that Renick repeatedly used inappropriate language during patient appointments and in the presence of young children, the case documents said. Multiple parents stated that the doctor used the “f-word” dozens of times during appointments with children.
He also reportedly called a parent and a newborn patient “stupid” before kissing the child on the head. At a 4-month wellness check with the same patient, Renick allegedly smelled the top of the newborn’s head and made a sexually explicit comment, according to the investigation by DHP.
He then asked the child’s parent not to tell anyone about the statement because he would get in trouble, according to the official documents.
Another parent reported additional sexually explicit comments made by Renick regarding syringe feeding difficulties with her 2-week-old baby. Later, during a meeting regarding Renick’s behavior — in which the clinic’s director of human resources, the interim chair of pediatrics and a parent were present — he admitted to equating syringe feeding to oral sex in front of parents and their newborn child.
Behavioral issues related to Renick’s language started shortly after he was hired as a pediatrician at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, according to the investigation by the DHP.
The report indicated that the hospital’s leadership “coached” Renick and his behavior improved slightly for a while.
But in December 2022, personnel records from the clinic showed that Renick was reprimanded again for making inappropriate and racist comments directed at other health care providers who he worked with.
Renick allegedly dismissed the concerns, saying that “people don’t get my sense of humor,” according to the state investigation.
Hannah Curtis, a media relations representative at Carilion Clinic, confirmed that the doctor’s employment with Carilion was terminated in February but was unable to provide any additional information.
“The claims contained in the Board of Medicine Notice of Hearing are concerning to us, and we take such allegations very seriously,” she said via email. “While we can confirm that Dr. Renick’s employment was terminated on February 8, 2024, at the conclusion of a confidential employment investigation, we are unable to provide any comments or details regarding this personnel matter. We continue to cooperate with the Board of Medicine as they investigate.”
The Virginia Board of Medicine will hold a hearing before any additional actions are taken against the doctor.
Cardinal News attempted to reach Renick via Facebook on Monday, but he did not respond in time for publication.
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Emily Schabacker
Emily Schabacker is health care reporter for Cardinal News. She can be reached at emily@cardinalnews.org...More by Emily Schabacker
