Physician accused of sexually harassing co-workers surrenders Iowa medical license

A former Iowa physician has surrendered his state medical license after being accused of sexually harassing three female co-workers, but he still may practice medicine in Arizona, where he also is licensed. 

Alan Schenne, 53, practiced family medicine in the northwest Iowa town of Mapleton.  The Iowa Board of Medicine, which licenses physicians, said he violated ethics rules by sending sexually suggestive text messages and having sexual relations with a woman with whom he worked and to whom he provided medical care.

In documents released this week, the board said Schenne also “sent sexually suggestive text messages to two (other) female co-workers and the text messages made the female co-workers uncomfortable.”

The doctor agreed to settle the case by surrendering his state medical license and paying a $5,000 fine. He could not be reached for comment.

Schenne also holds a medical license in Arizona. That state’s medical board website shows he has not been sanctioned there. The interim director of Iowa's board, Kent Nebel, said Schenne indicated he planned to continue practicing in Arizona.

The Arizona board lists Schenne as practicing at a clinic in Prescott, Arizona, and the clinic's automated phone system still identifies him as a physician there. But a woman who answered his extension Thursday said he no longer works there, and she declined to say where he might be practicing. A January posting on Schenne's LinkedIn account said he is "looking for a Holistic Medicine opportunity to benefit my community."