San Francisco Chronicle
Tanya Schevitz,Sabin Russell, Chronicle Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The University of California at San Francisco has refused to release an independent review of its finances, citing objections of the accounting firm that conducted the work.

UCSF officials last month said that the independent report, as well as two internal reviews, found “no evidence” of financial irregularities as alleged by former medical school Dean David Kessler after he was fired Dec. 13.

In response Tuesday to a Public Records Act request by The Chronicle, UCSF officials released information from two internal reviews, but declined to release the independent financial review or the name of the firm hired by the university for $165,000 to carry it out.

UCSF spokeswoman Corinna Kaarlela said the contract does not allow UCSF to release that information without permission of the firm, and the accounting firm has yet to grant it.

Citing similar objections from the accounting firm, UCSF also refused to provide a copy of the contract itself.

“This is standard practice for auditing firms to request that they must be asked to give permission for the document to be released,” she said. “We are trying to obtain that permission.”

Reached Tuesday, Kessler said he wants the independent report released. “It is essential,” he said.

Kessler contends he had been asking for a thorough, independent audit of the School of Medicine’s finances ever since he discovered in December 2004 that the amount of money available for his office was about $20 million less per year than he was shown when he took the job in June 2003.

Although he became aware than an independent financial review was under way, he said he does not know what questions the private auditors are asking. Nor has he seen the results.

“I asked to see it, and was told I could not,” he said.

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