Surgeon sues Jefferson County Health Center, alleging gender discrimination

FAIRFIELD – A Henry County woman who worked as a surgeon at Jefferson County Health Center is suing the hospital, alleging that she was paid less than a male colleague because of gender discrimination.

Dr. Beth Hothan-Zielinski was a general surgeon for JCHC for 11 years, beginning in 2013. In a lawsuit filed July 24, 2025, in the Iowa District Court for Jefferson County, Hothan-Zielinski alleges that she was paid $105,000 less than another general surgeon at JCHC, Dr. Scott Stoeger. She claims that she and Stoeger were doing the same job, and that Stoeger had no special credentials or qualifications that would have justified his higher pay.

In a response to the complaint, attorneys for JCHC concede that Hothan-Zielinski was paid less and that the two surgeons held the same title, but deny that they were doing the same job, asserting that Stoeger “had additional skillsets and effort that Plaintiff [Hothan-Zielinski] did not."

The Union reached out to attorneys for Hothan-Zielinski and JCHC, sending them both questions by the early morning of Friday, Aug. 8. As of Friday, Aug. 15, The Union had only received a reply from attorney Logan Kraus of Dentons Davis Brown P.C. of Des Moines representing JCHC, who stated:

“Jefferson County Health Center denies Dr. Hothan-Zielinski’s claims and maintains she was paid commensurate with her experience, responsibilities, and performance. While we understand the interest in this matter, as a matter of policy, JCHC officials do not participate in interviews or respond to specific questions regarding ongoing litigation. For further information, we refer you to JCHC’s public filings.”

In the plaintiff’s complaint against JCHC, Hothan-Zielinski’s attorneys David Albrecht and Amy Beck of Fiedler Law Firm of Johnston write that Hothan-Zielinski was JCHC’s only general surgeon for most of the time she worked there, until Stoeger was hired in November 2021.

“As of November 2021, Dr. Hothan-Zielinski’s qualifications were superior to Dr. Stoeger,” Albrecht and Beck wrote in their brief, a statement denied by JCHC.

Stoeger left JCHC after two years, departing in November 2023. Hothan-Zielinski claims that she learned in September 2024 that JCHC had paid Stoeger “far more than her to do the same job.”

“Defendant [JCHC] paid Dr. Stoeger a base pay of $480,000, $105,000 more per year than it paid Dr. Hothan-Zielinski,” read the plaintiff’s brief. “Defendant did not offer Dr. Stoeger his higher base pay due to any specific experience, education, or skill that he had.”

In response, JCHC’s attorneys write that base pay is determined by the Medical Group Management Association annual salary survey data and physician’s production. They also conceded that Stoeger and Hothan-Zielisnki held the same job title.

“Defendant admits that Plaintiff and Dr. Stoeger’s jobs required equal responsibility, but deny the implication that this occurred in practice,” attorneys for JCHC wrote.

Hothan-Zielinski also alleges that Stoeger received a $20,000 signing bonus, an annual payment toward his student loans, and a $6,000 annual retention bonus for five years, which JCHC acknowledged as correct, and also acknowledged that it did not offer Hothan-Zielinski a signing bonus nor retention bonuses.

JCHC CEO Bryan Hunger informed Hothan-Zielinski in September 2024 that the hospital was not renewing her contract for 2025. Hothan-Zielisnki asked to appear before the JCHC Board of Directors to “prove she was successfully doing her job” and that the hospital’s Relative Value Units (formula for calculating surgeon’s bonuses) were wrong.” She alleged that, instead of being given a private audience with the board, she had to plead her case during public comments.

Later in her brief, Hothan-Zielinski claims that the surgeon hired to replace her, Dr. Edward Ortell of Ottumwa, was paid a base rate “far above” her salary. JCHC responded by acknowledging Ortell’s base rate salary was higher than Hothan-Zielinski’s, but argued his pay was determined by “MGMA annual salary survey data and physician’s production.”

Hothan-Zielinski is accusing JCHC of violating the Iowa Civil Rights Act’s chapter on Sex and Pay Discrimination, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 on Wage Discrimination, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on Sex Discrimination. She is requesting a jury trial, and compensation for injuries and damages, attorney fees and litigation expenses.

The Union sent a set of questions to JCHC and a set of questions to Hothan-Zielinski’s attorneys, but has not received replies to these questions.

QUESTIONS FOR JCHC

QUESTIONS FOR PLAINTIFF

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com