Extreme pain in her lungs, exhaustion and difficulty breathing were the first signs of Olga Stavridis’ illness. Then came a visit to Riverside hospital in Columbus in early June, where doctors originally diagnosed her with lung cancer and removed a fist-sized portion of her lung.

Stavridis, associate director of Engineering Career Services at Ohio State, was eventually diagnosed with histoplasmosis, a fungal disease. She is one of two employees in Hitchcock Hall with the illness. The staff in the suite where she worked is being moved to another location while renovations take place and Stavridis moved to Dreese Lab earlier this month.

Stavridis is concerned she ended up with the disease after exposure to the fungus from ceiling tiles in her office.

“It’s been devastating,” she said. “Not just emotionally and physically. It’s also been financially difficult.”

Stavridis, a mother of three children under 10 years old, said her illness has taken a toll on her entire family.

Stavridis attended OSU as an undergraduate and worked for the College of Engineering in a work-study program.

She started her current position as associate director in 2004.
Her illness prevented her from returning to work from the end of May to the middle of September.

She had testing done on the ceiling tiles from her office in October and they tested positive for histoplasmosis. Her attorney, David Shroyer, sent the results to the College of Engineering.

OSU officials have stated they are doing everything possible and that none of the testing that has been done show a dangerous level of fungus.

They have inspected twice for mold and once specifically for histoplasmosis in Hitchcock, said Amy Murray, assistant director of
media relations, in an e-mail.

A consultant from Environmental Health and Engineering inspected the building last week for histoplasmosis, Murray said.

The consultant “tested dust and surface particulates in places that were not cleaned to determine if the fungus had been circulated,” she said.

In addition, Murray said that “the absence of fungus in samples from the occupied space indicates that there is a very low risk of building-related exposure.”

Two organizations, Columbus Public Health and the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation, have decided not to investigate the building after speaking with OSU officials.

“We feel we do not need to initiate an investigation at this time,” said Mysheika LeMaile-Williams, medical director at Columbus Public Health.

She said that OSU has done some educational outreach to employees about the disease and used two separate companies for testing.

“The bureau scheduled a visit to Ohio State but has since cancelled it,” Murray said. “Recognizing that the university has brought in two outside consultants to inspect and test in Hitchcock, a BWC representative said the department felt that the university is doing and has done everything possible to remedy and investigate this matter,” Murray said.

The BWC could not be reached for comment.

LeMaile-Williams said testing of employees for histoplasmosis would only show some testing positive for the disease because it is commonly found in the area.

Stavridis decided to retain an attorney, Shroyer, at the advice of her husband’s friend, but no lawsuits have been filed. Shroyer, an OSU alumnus, will continue to gather information before moving forward. According to his office Web site, his largest listed settlement, $9,300,000 was connected to OSU.

Stavridis said that she is slowly getting her strength back. Doctors have told her “it takes about a year,” she said.