SoM Staff Collective
The School of Medicine Staff Collective brings together representatives from across the School to connect central and local efforts around the employee experience. The group is led by the Office of EECI and the direction of the group is co-created across the membership.
Members attend monthly meetings, engage with each other via a Slack channel, mailing list, and community-building opportunities, and connect the collective’s efforts to their DFA and departmental committees. Currently, the Collective has three subgroups to advance efforts around organizational change based on the employee experience: Advisory Board; Employee Education and Advancement; and (Inter)Departmental Collaboration.
The focus areas for each subgroup are listed below.
Advisory Board supports the Office of EECI in strategic planning for the Collective, including its sustainability and long-term vision, drawing on the experiences of Collective members.
Employee Education and Advancement ideates, curates, and coordinates optional learning and professional development opportunities for Collective members. These learning opportunities include hosting lunch and learn workshops and supporting staff in professional development and upskilling opportunities related to organizational change.
(Inter)Departmental Collaboration facilitates and creates a more robust culture of collaboration, innovation, and connection between SoM departments and units. This subgroup aims to promote transparency, enhance critical information sharing, and disseminate best practices by hosting committee cross-talks.
(Inter)Departmental Mini-Grant Program
The (Inter)Departmental Collaboration Mini-Grant Program supports projects that strengthen collaboration and community across Stanford School of Medicine departments.
Grants of up to $1,000 are available for projects that bring staff together and build lasting interdepartmental connections.
Projects must:
- Include two or more departments or units
- Significantly include School of Medicine staff
- Promote community, collaboration, culture, or belonging
- Be completed by the first week of August
Applications are now open through Friday, April 3rd at 11:59pm PT.
Funding awards will be announced shortly thereafter.
For additional information on program objective, eligibility criteria, and funding guidelines click here.
Need help with the application? Applicants are welcome to schedule a brief consultation with the HRG EECI (Employee Experience and Community Impact) team to discuss how to strengthen the sustainability and collaborative elements of their proposal before submission. Reach out to the HRG EECI Team at somhrgeeci@stanford.edu
Coffee Connections for Collaboration
Coffee Connections was created in response to the community’s request for more points of connection outside Collective meetings with folks who could advise or collaborate on new ideas. What better way to spark meaningful conversations and connections than over a coffee or tea?
This effort is funded by the School of Medicine’s Human Resources Group.
WHO can request reimbursement?
- A SoM staff member must serve as the requester and point of contact for reimbursement; however, any Stanford staff member (across Stanford University and Hospitals) can be invited to meet up.
WHAT qualifies as a reimbursable meetup?
- Staff from different departments
- Attendees can include staff across the enterprise (the University and the Hospitals)
- There’s no limit to how many people meet up, so make it a collaboration party!
- Discuss staff-related issues on building a positive workplace culture, and/or collaboration
WHAT is reimbursable?
- One non-alcoholic beverage (e.g., coffee, tea, juice) per person per meetup, with a limit of 3 reimbursable meetups per requester.
- Virtual meetups (with online beverage orders) are reimbursable too. Participants can submit separate receipts to have their beverages reimbursed.
HOW do I request reimbursement?
- Before the meet-up, submit a request in the 2026 Coffee Connections Pre-Approval Intake Form. This ensures we have sufficient funds to cover your reimbursement!
- Once approved, you will receive a confirmation message from us granting you permission to have your coffee connection.
- Meet up with SoM staff from other departments.
- Pay for your beverages on one card/receipt. If meeting virtually, pay for your beverages and submit receipts independently.
- Snap a selfie for attendance verification and send it to somhrgeeci@stanford.edu with the title [2026 Coffee Connections Verification].
- Submit your reimbursement through your own team/department's finance representative. The HRG Finance team will approve your request..
Funding for this initiative is first-come-first-serve, so reach out to a potential connection today!