A Denver Health anesthesiologist who posted racist comments about first lady Michelle Obama to Facebook will not be seeing patients or providing anesthesia services at the hospital “until further notice,” according to a statement released by the hospital on Thursday.

Dr. Michelle Herren, a pediatric anesthesiologist, was responding to praise of Obama, a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law, that had been posted by a Facebook friend she had in common with JoAnn Nietto. The post called the first lady eloquent.

“Doesn’t seem to be speaking too eloquently here, thank god we can’t hear her!” said Herren’s comment on the post that included a picture of Obama, her face contorted in a scream. “Harvard??? That’s a place for ‘entitled’ folks said all the liberals!”

Another comment by Herren followed: “Monkey face and poor ebonic English!!! There! I feel better and am still not racist!!! Just calling it like it is!”

“It really outraged me to see that she works at Denver Health, which serves a huge minority population,” Nietto said Wednesday.

A man who answered the phone listed for Herren, said, “I will let her know you called, and we’ll see about getting back to you in the future.”

Herren holds a non-paid faculty appointment at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a medical staff appointment at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Nietto informed Denver Health and the CU Board of Regents about the post.

Denver Health spokeswoman Kelli Christensen on Wednesday said the hospital is researching legal options it might be able to use to discipline Herren.

At that time, the hospital released a statement saying the comments were an insult to the mission and values of Denver Health, and to staff and patients.

“While the leadership of Denver Health is appalled by these remarks, as a public entity we are constrained by both state and federal law, including the First Amendment right of free speech, to terminate any employee for their off-duty comments, regardless of how offensive their comments may be,” the statement said.

CU School of Medicine dean Dr. John J. Reilly Jr. has communicated directly with Herren regarding the statements posted on Facebook, school spokesman Mark Couch said in an e-mail.

“He reminded Dr. Herren, who is an employee of Denver Health, of her responsibilities as a faculty member to conduct herself with civility,” Couch wrote. “The School of Medicine is reviewing the details of this matter and will ensure that its students and trainees and the patients who are served by our faculty are not exposed to unacceptable behavior.”

Herren is paid $363,000 a year, according to Denver Health.