In 1998, Dr. James Heaps sexually assaulted me.
He was a gynecological oncologist at UCLA. He irreparably harmed my body when he abused me. He sent the nurse out of the room when he started to “examine” me. He made sexually harassing comments about my facial features and body parts. He used unnecessary instruments for his “examination”; and touched my inner thighs, forcing them open without wearing gloves.
Here’s the tricky part about medical assault: Doctors are perhaps the most trusted professionals in this country. So I doubted his wrongdoing at first, and in a confused way trusted that he had to do what he did —- even though I felt creeped out and devastated by his actions.
Sexual assault and abuse comes in many forms. Eight of out 10 times the perpetrator is someone the victim knows —- a family member or friend … a coworker … or a doctor.
My father had sexually abused me when I was a child. When Dr. Heaps did the same, I questioned myself and what had just happened, thinking something must be wrong with me, that I caused him to prey on me. This is the same thread that ran in my life when my father abused me —- part of a trauma response to deplorable behavior. Predatory behavior is horrendously confusing.
I reported Dr. Heaps’s predatory actions to the California Medical Board and UCLA. They disregarded my concerns. Instead, they became complicit as Heaps abused hundreds —- and possibly thousands —- of other women.
Dr. Heaps was a well-respected medical professional, and one of the highest-paid doctors at the center. He had a reputation the school wanted to protect.
Two decades later, other survivors spoke out. I came forward with all the documentation I’d filed when I was assaulted. It’s possible that I was the first patient to file a formal complaint against Dr. Heaps. Thankfully, I wasn’t the last.
After decades of healing, I accepted an invitation to be one of the lead plaintiffs in what became a landmark case against Dr. Heaps and UCLA in 2019. As an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, I also had the honor of addressing the California Senate and Judiciary Committee, supporting the lifting of the statute of limitations for survivors; and speaking at press conferences and various news outlets about it.
My story continues today —- as someone who fights for survivors of sexual assault and abuse, so we can be heard. I thank organizations like RAINN who are there to hear us, and to fight for us as well.
This April, join Julie Wallach to make sure RAINN is there when survivors of sexual assault and abuse most need support. Make a contribution today – and help us keep providing critical services and advocacy for adults living with trauma.
In her own voice: Julie Wallach speaks on advocacy for survivors of sexual assault
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Julie Wallach survived child sexual abuse. As an adult in 1998, she was again victimized — this time by a prominent gynecological oncologist at UCLA. Wallach filed a complaint against Dr. James Heaps with UCLA and the California Medical Board but her report was ignored. It took 20 years and hundreds more complaints before Dr. Heaps was finally charged in 2019 with sexual assault and abuse. In 2023, Heaps was successfully convicted on 21 counts. The University of California system agreed to pay over $240 million to settle lawsuits with 203 of Heaps’ numerous victims. Wallach’s report was among the evidence presented against the doctor. Today, Julie works as a speaker, activist, coach and expressive writing facilitator, and is writing her memoir about incest and other sexual abuse.