The Associate Deans with the Office of Medical Student Wellness are confidential resources to help students resolve personal issues that may affect academic life. They are points of contact for students who wish to discuss sensitive or personal topics or to obtain advice of a non-academic nature.

Students are encouraged to bring issues that impact their life decisions, well-being and academic performance. Issues appropriate for OMSW include the following:

The Associate Deans are also available to discuss the possible need for referral for:

Confidentiality Policy

The freedom to discuss concerns without there being any influence on a student’s evaluation or grade is an essential component of our work at OMSW. As a general rule, we provide a confidential environment.

It is worth bearing in mind, however, that unlike discussions with an attorney, psychiatrist, ombudsperson or clergy, communications to OMSW are not shielded by law. There are situations where the University may be required to take some action to address these concerns and we may need to disclose. These include concerns relating to race and gender discrimination, sexual harassment or the personal safety of the student/others.

• Immediate Mental Health Crisis Assistance: Stanford Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 650-723-3785
• Mental Health Team (MHT): Provides free, accessible mental health care to School of Medicine and BioSciences students. To make an appointment, call CAPS Front Desk at 650-723-3785 and request an appointment with an MHT provider.
• Mental Health Resources at Stanford
  Stanford has a wealth of mental health resources to help you navigate challenging times.
• Ears for Peers (E4P) is a student-to-student peer listening group that provides free and confidential counseling for the Stanford School of Medicine community.
• Children & Family; Elder Care & Caregiving; Navigating Work & Life: link includes child care and lactation support.
• Clerkship Resources for MD Students: information on the various clerkship site location's emergency protocols and procedures, call/rest rooms, study spaces, meditation/relaxation rooms, lactation rooms and locker rooms accessible to all medical students
• COVID Updates
• Office of Substance Use Programs Education & Resources (SUPER): Stanford has resources available for students seeking help for self or peers with substance use and other addictions. For information on Stanford Medicine resources, download the substance abuse and addiction resource below.

In 2010, the Stanford School of Medicine leadership was concerned that the rate of mistreatment reported by our graduating medical students on the annual AAMC GQ had increased over prior years.  It was decided to redouble efforts to improve the learning climate for students, underscoring our school’s zero tolerance for inappropriate treatment of learners.

Stanford Medicine chooses to apply the  Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) definition of mistreatment: "Mistreatment arises when behavior shows disrespect for the dignity of others and unreasonably interferes with the learning process." The AAMC lists the following behaviors as mistreatment on the annual Graduation Questionnaire that is sent to each student in the nation who is graduating from medical school:

• Publicly humiliated
• Required to perform personal services
• Physically harmed or threatened with physical harm
• Subjected to unwanted sexual advances
• Asked to exchange sexual favors for grades or other rewards
• Denied opportunities for training or rewards based solely on gender, race or ethnicity, or sexual orientation
• Received lower evaluations or grades solely because of gender, race or ethnicity, or sexual orientation
• Subjected to offensive remarks because of gender, race or ethnicity, or sexual orientation

Reporting a Mistreatment Issue

If you experience or witness mistreatment, we encourage you to report it through one of the options.

1. Contact the Office of Medical Student Wellness directly by email
   
2. Report incidents via MedHub. Students can report on the end-of-course or clerkship evaluation through MedHub.OMSW receives the report. Egregious incidents are addressed promptly.
   
3. Report incidents (including by patient) directly in Qualtrics. Students can report can report at the time of the incident instead of end-of-course or clerkship evaluations. OMSW receives the report. Egregious incidents are addressed promptly.
   
4. Complete a SAFE report through the hospital SAFE reporting system. Reports referencing student mistreatment are sent directly to OMSW. They are kept confidential and addressed quickly. 
5. Clinical students can submit delayed paper reports during RCM (INDE 297).
   

Respectful Environment and Mistreatment Committee (REMC)

The Respectful Environment and Mistreatment Committee (REMC) was created to educate and raise awareness of our standards for respectful educator conduct, to enable a procedure by which students can report concerns of student mistreatment without fear of retaliation and to address solutions of these concerns. For more information please review the Respectful Environment and Mistreatment Policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Medical Student Wellness at somwellness@stanford.edu.

How REMC Responds to Mistreatment

Team of Coaches

The team of coaches are trained to deliver mistreatment feedback. These coaches are respected nonsupervisory, senior faculty who are selected from different departments.  The training for coaches focuses on methods of sharing anonymous, delayed, negative feedback based on perception, discouraging retaliatory and defensive thoughts, encouraging self-reflection and avoiding educator demoralization.