Nine members of the First Coast Child Protection Team in Florida are speaking out about their boss, Dr. Barbara Knox, alleging a toxic work environment and concerns over her handling of child abuse cases. These employees claim that Knox's actions are potentially jeopardizing investigations, and they accuse the University of Florida (UF) of ignoring complaints filed about her leadership. Knox, a board-certified child abuse pediatrician, first caught our attention in 2024 when Corey and Diana Sullivan had their three children removed from their custody after bringing their baby to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville for a swollen leg. Knox diagnosed the baby with multiple broken bones and a liver laceration. “She looked at me and said in my 30 years of experience the only way for a child to obtain this injury is for her to be punched repeatedly in the abdomen or she was dropkicked across the room,” Diana Sullivan said. “And I looked at her and said what do you mean? She’s eight pounds. Wouldn’t we see any type of physical marks on her body? Wouldn’t she act like she is in pain? I mean she’s not showing any signs of pain or discomfort. Wouldn’t there be any type of discoloration or bruising if she’s bleeding internally? And she just kept saying no.” The Sullivans believe their daughter was misdiagnosed. A review by a geneticist suggested the child’s malnutrition in the womb led to weakened bones, making fractures more likely without excessive force. While the Sullivans fight felony child abuse charges and fight to regain custody of their children, nine members of the First Coast Child Protection Team are coming forward with concerns about Knox, concerns they’ve raised in written complaints with the agency. “We are here to champion the children. We’re here to protect those that can't speak for themselves, yet we are in the middle of being bullied and retaliated against,” one employee said, “How do you go to work every day and protect abused children when the abuse is being perpetrated against you and your peers?” MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/we-are-in-the-middle-of-being-bullied-9-members-of-child-protection-team-call-for-end-of-toxic-work-environment/77-1f192b6b-9915-4430-aec4-001b0985703a