Who was Richard Strauss? A look at the OSU doctor at the center of abuse scandal

Ohio State University’s Dr. Richard Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students between 1978 and 1998 while working as a physician at the university, an independent investigation confirmed in 2019. The abuse occurred during his roles as team physician and at the Student Health Center, with university staff first aware of the misconduct in 1979 but taking no action until 1996. Strauss was removed from Athletics and Student Health that year but continued abusing students at a private men’s clinic he opened afterward. The scandal resurfaced in 2018 when former OSU wrestler Michael DiSabato came forward, triggering the investigation. University records showed Strauss maintained tenured faculty status in the School of Public Health even after his 1996 disciplinary action and retired in 1998, retaining emeritus status until his suicide in 2005. Victims have since filed lawsuits totaling tens of millions in settlements, with new claims emerging in 2026. Recent disclosures reveal Strauss abused high school students, including retired Columbus Fire Chief Jeffrey Happ, while conducting a university-funded body fat study. Happ, abused as a teenager at Bishop Ready High School, was the first to publicly allege abuse in a high school setting. Additional first responders have since come forward, linking Strauss to widespread misconduct across central Ohio. The case has drawn national attention, including a George Clooney-produced HBO Max documentary, *Surviving Ohio State*, released June 17, 2025. The film examines Strauss’ abuse and the university’s failure to protect students, further fueling demands for accountability.