CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. — A University of Florida child abuse pediatrician involved in a high-profile custody case will resign in August, the university confirmed.

We received a statement from UF just before 10 p.m. Monday evening, saying that Dr. Barbara Knox signed an agreement on June 24 that constitutes a notice of resignation from UF Health, effective August 15.

Dr. Knox is the child abuse pediatrician involved in the Sullivan family’s custody case, which made headlines beginning last year. The Georgia couple had their three young children removed from their custody after taking their baby to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville for a swollen leg in 2023.

They fought for more than a year to regain custody, telling the court their child had a medical condition and was not abused. Last month, a judge allowed them to be reunited with their children.

Nine members of the Child Protection Team Knox led spoke with First Coast News in January, telling us they were experiencing a toxic work environment and had serious concerns about her handling of child abuse cases. The employees said that her actions were potentially jeopardizing investigations.

“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?”

The team members, who requested we not use their names or show their faces for fear of retaliation, described a hostile and unprofessional work environment. While they could not discuss any specific cases due to privacy laws, they claimed that Knox created a pattern of bullying in the office, disregarding professional protocols.

You can read more of what they told us by clicking here. 

A spokesperson for the University of Florida told First Coast News, “The University of Florida does not typically comment on personnel matters.”