Fostering a Culture of Confidence
The Long School of Medicine (LSOM) is committed to sustaining an environment of mutual respect, collegiality, fairness, and trust. We strive for a learning environment that promotes academic and professional success in learners at all levels and is free of behaviors that adversely affect the teacher-learner relationship.
Learning Environment
The starting point for a positive learning environment is the emphasis placed on the experiences that our students, residents, faculty, and staff encounter. Upon arriving at the Long School of Medicine, members of our community are greeted with onboarding programs that emphasize the importance of creating an environment in which everyone can work, learn, and grow as professionals. The safety of the learning environment is paramount to the success of our medical education program – members of our medical education community are encouraged to actively participate in enhancing the learning environment through development programs, anonymous learning environment surveys, and feedback sessions with institutional leadership. We are inspired by those around us, and these mechanisms form the basis for initiatives that make the Long School of Medicine an amazing place to work and learn. We are committed to educating the next generation of physicians who will follow the example of our medical educators and lead with skill, compassion and purpose to shape the future of medicine in Texas and beyond.
What is Mistreatment?
Mistreatment is defined as intentional or unintentional behaviors that demonstrate disrespect for others or lack of professionalism in interpersonal conduct. Examples may include: physical/sexual harassment or assault; discrimination; disparaging or demeaning comments about an individual or group; grading/assessment unrelated to performance, effort, or level of achievement; and sending students on errands unrelated to the didactic, investigational, or clinical situation at hand.
All members of the Long School of Medicine medical education community share the responsibility to protect the health of the learning environment and therefore to report any incident they experience or witness in which the learning environment has been or may be compromised, or where student mistreatment has occurred. Mechanisms for reporting may be confidential or anonymous. All reports of student mistreatment will be investigated by a responsible party and appropriate action taken. For more information visit the .
Ways to Report Medical Student Mistreatment at LSOM
Confidential reports can be made directly to the following:
- Course/Clerkship Directors
"One45" evaluation forms are also a means for students to confidentially report. When completing these forms at the end of a course or clerkship, students may indicate if they have experienced mistreatment with an option to be contacted by the Office of Student Affairs if they wish to discuss further.
Anonymous mistreatment reports may be submitted by anyone online via the .
also covers individuals who have been discriminated on the basis of their sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
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Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a top priority throughout the mistreatment reporting process. All reports are reviewed according to the Long School of Medicine policy, ensuring fairness and confidentiality. During any investigation of a report of mistreatment, precautions will be taken to maintain the confidentiality of the complainant to the greatest extent possible and appropriate action taken to protect against harm or retaliation. Likewise, personnel actions taken by the school or university against a perpetrator may be confidential and not disclosed to the complainant.