UPMC expensed $50M private jet, despite laying off 1,000 workers
An investigation by a Pittsburgh news outlet into the business practices at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) unveiled $50 million in spending on a leased private jet, used by the CEO to fly home to Florida.
According to the report, UPMC CEO Leslie Davis owns property in Boca Raton, Florida, and used the jet to not only fly home but also take trips around the world—including to Italy, Ireland and Croatia. She also made stops in Palm Beach.
The discovery was made in July, the same time UPMC had laid off roughly 1,000 employees—including clinical staff—due to financial hardship.
Davis also earned an $11 million salary last year, which she used to maintain two beachfront condos in Boca Raton. UPMC does not have a hospital in the city; however, the institution maintains a partnership with a pharmaceutical company in the area, the report said.
The health system legally leases the jet and does report it on its tax returns. However, the flight logs raise questions about if the plane is being used for personal, recreational trips.
UPMC is a nonprofit, tax-exempt academic health system.
Read the full report with detailed flight logs from Action News at the link below.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.