What Every Michigan Parent Should Know About the Arrest of Dr. Bryan Sack

Every parent whose child was ever treated by pediatric urologist Dr. Bryan Shanley Sack needs to know the disturbing story that came to light last week in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

On February 21, 2026, Dr. Sack, a 43-year-old Ann Arbor resident, was arraigned in the 15th District Court on six felony charges. These include two counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, one count of possession of child sexually abusive material, and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) notified Michigan State Police after receiving an online tip. After an investigation by the Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, MSP obtained and executed a search warrant at Dr. Sack’s home, seizing digital evidence. Investigators allege he possessed or accessed more than 100 images involving child sexual abuse.

Dr. Sack was employed as a pediatric urologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Toledo for approximately 18 months. The hospital terminated him immediately upon being notified of the charges. As a pediatric urologist, Dr. Sack’s patients were children, and he performed intimate, sensitive examinations and procedures. He also served as a clinical associate professor of urology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine as recently as 2024.

What Law Enforcement Has (and Has Not) Said

The current criminal charges against Dr. Sack do not include any allegations that he abused children while providing medical care to pediatric patients in Toledo or at the University of Michigan. He has been charged with possessing and accessing illegal electronic material, not for any conduct related to medical care. Dr. Sack has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent of criminal charges unless and until proven otherwise in a court of law.

However, my experience has shown that possessing exploitative, abusive, and pornographic images of children is often the tip of the iceberg. When the authorities file any type of child abuse charges against a physician with unsupervised, intimate access to children as part of his medical practice, it’s crucial to inform parents and families. The MSP says its investigation is ongoing. If further evidence comes to light, additional charges may be appropriate.

A Message to Parents

If Dr. Bryan Sack was your child’s doctor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Toledo, through the University of Michigan, or elsewhere, news of his arrest may cut close to home. If something happened during an examination or appointment that made you or your child uncomfortable, I want to hear from you.

Maybe you dismissed it at the time. Maybe your child said something afterward that you weren’t sure how to interpret. Maybe you simply never had a chance to question what was normal and what wasn’t. Please don’t let uncertainty stop you from reaching out to me. My job is to listen, evaluate, and help you determine whether your child’s rights were violated and whether you have a path forward.

Why This Matters Beyond One Individual

I have seen the same pattern emerge repeatedly in my many years of representing survivors of institutional child sexual abuse:

• A predator gains access to children through a position of trust and authority.
• Red flags are missed or ignored.
• Institutions later claim they had no idea, which is sometimes true and sometimes not.

When an institution knew or should have known that an employee posed a risk to children and failed to act, that institution can and should be held accountable. My practice has pursued accountability against hospitals, schools, universities, and churches that turned a blind eye to child abuse, prioritized their reputations over child safety, or failed to implement adequate safeguards to protect the children in their care.

I am watching the investigation into Dr. Sack and the institutions where he worked closely. If the facts support it, institutional accountability will be part of this conversation. We will work with families to ensure they receive justice and to help improve the safety of young patients throughout the medical system.

Contact Us

If you believe your child may have been victimized by Dr. Sack or anyone else, please contact our office today. For families who have experienced this kind of trauma, simply being heard is often the first step. These conversations are confidential, and there is no obligation. I’ll help you understand your options and work with you to figure out what’s best for you and your family.

Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.