How to file a mistreatment report:
There are multiple avenues for you to report mistreatment that you either experience or witness.
- Reach out to me, your clerkship or elective director, or any medical education dean
- OAPD: Report a concern button on multiple webpages; phone: 203-785-2101; email: oapd.acadprof@yale.edu
Anonymity/specificity:
You are always welcome to report something anonymously. However, specificity helps the school respond to the issue.
Research settings:
Students who observe or experience mistreatment in a lab or other research setting are encouraged to reach out to our Office of Student Research (Associate Deans Herzog and Chaudhry) or contact OAPD as noted above.
Timing:
Based on past student feedback, we aggregate end of course/clerkship /elective comments over six months before acting on them to protect student anonymity. We also wait for all grades to be submitted. If you prefer more immediacy, reporting through OAPD or someone in medical education leadership is an alternative approach.
Responding effectively to reports of mistreatment:
This is a top priority for us. Reports about faculty go to departments for investigation and a recommended response. This process is not intended to punish faculty, but to address what caused the problem and ensure it does not happen again. Sometimes outside stress is a factor and the response includes efforts to mitigate stressors in our working environment. Sometimes more education/training is needed. There are situations, however, where removing a faculty member from teaching and/or supervising trainees is appropriate until remediation has been completed. There are other situations in which faculty members have been asked to step down or leave the institution.
The department’s report and recommended response goes to the YSM Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee (EPCC), which reviews the proposed plan and determines if it is acceptable. Students are welcome to attend EPCC meetings. Moreover, a new EPCC subcommittee on the learning environment, which will have students on it, is being formed and will be led by John Encandela, director of the Teaching & Learning Center. Please reach out to him if you are interested in participating.
Retaliation:
We make clear to faculty that retaliation is completely unacceptable and will make any wrongdoing a much bigger problem.
Follow-up:
Some students noted they have not heard back about the outcome of their complaint. We need to improve this process, as well as accountability. The OAPD process includes follow-up with the person who filed a complaint. I am committed to ensuring follow-up occurs when complaints are filed through course/clerkship evaluations. The new EPCC subcommittee will help us assure accountability.
Improving the learning environment:
Our goal is to create a learning environment where reports of mistreatment, harassment, and discrimination are as close to zero as possible. To achieve this, we have developed required faculty trainings and are helping departments establish and meet high standards of professionalism. Moreover, the Health Equity Thread has and continues to create materials to educate faculty about how to foster an inclusive learning environment, so that discussions of these topics enhance rather than interrupt learning.
Learning environment survey—Opportunity for students:
We are creating a new learning environment survey to help us monitor the environment and respond better. We welcome student involvement. If you are interested, please contact John Encandela.