Psychiatrist stabbed by recent grad

In good condition at HUP A University psychiatrist was listed in good condition last night at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after being stabbed multiple times Friday by a patient and former University student, University Police said. Robert Wenger, 47, was stabbed with what police described as a "13-inch butcher knife," after Wenger recommended that Ramez Qureshi enter a psychiatric hospital, University spokesperson Barbara Beck said. Qureshi, 20, who graduated in May with a degree in English, has a history of mental problems, Beck said. Qureshi was charged with aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person, police said. But Qureshi was released after he posted bail, and is currently in his home state of New York, according to a person who asked to not be identified. An employee of Student Health heard Wenger "whimpering" when she passed by his door, and knew he was with a patient, University Police Sgt. Joe Risoli said. When she heard "kicking noises," she entered the room, he said. The Student Health employee then contacted HUP security, who called Philadelphia police, Risoli said. Wenger was admitted to HUP with four stab wounds on his left side and posterior, Risoli said. As of last night, Wenger had not been discharged from HUP, according to HUP spokesperson Cathy Kelly-West. "Apparently he had also broken his ankle in the struggle, but basically his wounds were superficial," Beck said. This was neither a random crime nor easily preventable, Beck said. "Clearly it's between one troubled young man and his doctor," she said. "You can have a hundred police officers there, and it could happen." Although this type of violence against a doctor is not common at the University, Beck said, it is something which can occur anywhere. "This is a case in which it was impossible to prevent," Beck said. "This stuff happens in real life too, out in the outside world. You can't put metal detectors everywhere."