A physician assistant at Brooklyn College’s health clinic is accused of sexually harassing female students, with a lawsuit alleging that his supervisor downplayed the concerns, according to a report by the New York Post.
Regina Patino, a former CUNY film student, claims in a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court that Gary Giardina, 78, engaged in inappropriate touching during examinations between 2022 and 2024. Patino alleges Giardina guided her by her lower back, slid his hand up her thigh, and pressed his cheek against hers.
When Patino requested to see a female physician, the clinic’s then-director, Ilene Tannenbaum, reportedly asked her why. According to the suit, Tannenbaum told Patino that Giardina was “an older man and has no interest in young girls like you,” and that her complaints were not a problem.
Patino, who has since graduated, is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit. Tannenbaum, a nurse practitioner, retired at the end of the 2024 school year after 30 years at the clinic. Giardina remains employed there.
Brooklyn College released a statement indicating that the institution takes all reports of misconduct seriously and is committed to a safe environment. Due to the pending legal nature of the matter, the college stated it could not comment further. Representatives for CUNY, Giardina, and Tannenbaum did not respond to requests for comment.