Psychologist accused of sexually harassing patients

As seen in this report from Iowa

A psychologist who worked at the state-run Mental Health Institute in Independence is accused of sexually harassing patients.

Joshua Rosenberg, who now lives in New York, was an Iowa-licensed psychologist from 1978 to 2002. According to state records, he was employed by the Iowa Department of Human Services for at least nine years, from 1993 to 2002.

In August 2000, when he was living in Waterloo and working at the Mental Health Institute, a patient filed a complaint against Rosenberg with the Iowa Board of Psychology Examiners. The complainant alleged Rosenberg had inappropriate physical contact with him or her. A female patient of the institute filed a second complaint, alleging Rosenberg had sexually harassed her.

According to records of the psychology board, a staff investigator made several attempts to contact Rosenberg to arrange for an interview, and Rosenberg did not respond or refused to cooperate. He then moved without notifying the licensing board of his whereabouts.

The board has charged Rosenberg with engaging in practices harmful to the public, violating his profession's ethics and failing to cooperate with an investigation. Rosenberg has 20 days to respond. A hearing is scheduled for February 2004.