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The Investigator | Doctor doing city physicals has medical license suspended for hoarder disorder

The Ohio Medical Board has suspended the medical license of the doctor who performed physical exams on Middleburg Heights city employees.

Middleburg Heights — One of Ohio's longest-serving mayors denies he discriminated against women and sexually harassed them. Mayor Gary Starr of Middleburg Heights is accused of selectively deciding which employees had to undergo a physical exam, and in some cases, fax him the results.

The Ohio Medical Board has suspended the medical license of the doctor who performed many of those exams. The board said Dr. John Kavlich of Berea has the mental disorder of Hoarder Disorder and is incapable of practicing medicine according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care due to the condition.

The board said that Kavlich was not able to provide a safe, clean, functional practice setting for himself, his staff and patients. The board said that his continued practice of medicine presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public. The board decided he can not practice medicine until an ongoing investigation is complete.

Investigators from the Ohio Medical Board and the Ohio Pharmacy Board found a number of troubling issues with the building that they say he owns and that houses his medical practice. Investigators found miscellaneous items all over the place including computers, refrigerators, toys, boxes, trash, trailers and statues.

The city of Berea condemned the building. Dr. Kavlich relocated to an office nearby which was closed on the day Channel 3 visited. Kavlich could not be reached for comment.

Former city employee Patti Oakar has alleged in a 5-page letter that Mayor Starr ordered her and another female employee to get a physical exam from Kavlich and fax the results to him. She alleges that male workers she's aware of weren't subject to the same requirements.

She also said the Mayor boasted about his private parts and talked about how pistachios contributed to his sexual prowess.

Mayor Starr called the allegations defamatory, malicious and completely false. He declined comment regarding Dr. Kavlich, saying he was unaware of his disciplinary action.

The Mayor says an internal investigation is underway into Oakar's claims and he'll comment further once the investigation is complete.

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