Venus Lee resigns as GraceMed CEO after report disputing her academic credentials

Matthew Kelly
·2 min read
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Venus Lee has resigned as CEO of GraceMed Health Clinic, according to an email sent to employees and obtained by The Eagle.

“The Board expresses its appreciation to Venus Lee and her remarkable service. Her enthusiasm and leadership will be deeply missed,” reads the message from the nonprofit’s board of directors, which was sent to employees shortly before noon Wednesday by the clinic’s HR director.

According to the email, Lee resigned on Monday, five days after the online publication Karlstack published a report disputing her academic credentials, including the doctorate in theology from Emory University that had previously been listed in her bio on the GraceMed website.

Lee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She had been with GraceMed for 14 years, taking over as CEO in 2020. Before that, she served as associate executive officer of the faith-based clinic chain, which operates 16 medical facilities across Kansas.

“Additionally, the Board has agreed to have Dr. Julie Elder act in the interim CEO capacity. Dr. Elder and Jason Ybarra [chief operating officer] will work together to transition Venus’s responsibilities,” the email states.

Representatives from GraceMed’s administrative office and board members did not immediately respond to The Eagle’s requests for clarification, including whether Lee will remain involved with the clinic in a different capacity and if her resignation is in direct response to the reporting about her academic record.

A representative from Emory University told Karlstack that the institution had no record of Lee ever being enrolled in its doctorate in theology program, under her married or maiden name.

Lee’s GraceMed bio and feature stories about her have also stated she obtained a master’s of business administration from Wichita State University. In response to an Eagle request asking for any records verifying whether Lee earned an MBA or ever attended WSU, the university said it had “no records responsive” to the request.