All members of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine community have a responsibility to maintain a welcoming and inclusive learning environment. We are committed to fostering a safe and positive culture that promotes student success and well-being, one that follows guidelines of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and “adheres to human dignity.”
The KPSOM learning environment is any setting in which students engage in learning – whether on or off campus, online, or through extracurricular activities – and in which students learn from instructors, faculty, staff, REACH coaches, physicians, residents, or classmates in a clinical space.
The Office of Student Affairs invites your feedback on the KPSOM learning environment. Here you may report concerns about any mistreatment, bias, or other unacceptable conduct that is experienced or witnessed, or share your compliments and commendations recognizing the supportive contributions of students, faculty, and staff.
- Report an incident of student mistreatment (e.g., acts of physical abuse or violence of any kind; sexual harassment; or loss of civility, which may include personal attacks, bullying, or culturally insensitive language in speech, email, text, or other communication).
- Report an incident of bias (e.g., any speech, act, or harassing action targeting someone based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religious creed, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other status protected by law).
- Make a commendation.
- Learn about confidentiality and privacy.
If you wish to report mistreatment or bias but are unsure of what type of report to make, that’s OK. Please file a report anyway, and we will make sure it is received by the appropriate staff and we will follow up as needed. For questions and support, email the Office of Student Affairs at learningenvironment@kp.org.
Student Mistreatment
The AAMC defines medical student mistreatment as intentional, malicious behavior that “shows disrespect for the dignity of others and unreasonably interferes with the learning process.” Mistreatment takes many forms, including physical punishment; sexual harassment; public embarrassment; humiliation or other psychological cruelty; and discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, age, or sexual orientation. Mistreatment and disrespect are unacceptable, whether in the classroom, in the clinical setting, or anywhere students, faculty, and staff engage in the learning and teaching process.
Use the MISTREAT acronym for reference. While this is not a complete list, these examples may help you identify incidents of student mistreatment:
- Malicious intent
- Intimidation on purpose
- Sexual harassment
- Threatening verbal or physical behavior
- Racism or discrimination
- Excessive or unrealistic expectations
- Abusive favors
- Trading for grades (quid pro quo)
(Source: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine)
For more examples of student mistreatment, visit the Student Portal (must be signed on to the Kaiser Permanente network for access).
Incidents of Bias
The school aspires to have a learning environment that respects diversity and is free of bias and prejudice, whether conscious or unconscious. An incident of bias or prejudice involves any speech, act, or harassment that targets, threatens, or attacks an individual or group because of its actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, religious creed, disability, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other status protected by law. This includes verbal or written degrading language or insults about a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, marital status, political affiliation, or disability.
See the following examples of bias for reference. While this is not a complete list, it may help you identify an incident of bias when one occurs:
- Micro-aggression: Commonplace verbal or behavioral indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative identity-based slights and insults.
- Micro-insult: Behavioral/verbal remarks or comments that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s heritage or identity.
- Micro-assault: Explicit identity-based derogations characterized primarily by a violent verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior, or purposeful discriminatory actions.
- Micro-invalidation: Verbal comments or behaviors that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a person of color.
- Macro-aggression: Identity-based assaults, insults, and invalidations that are manifested on systemic and environmental levels.
Commendations
Please tell us about students, faculty, and staff who contribute in a positive way toward your ability to thrive in the learning environment. We want to hear how they have supported a sense of inclusion and belonging.
We would also like to hear about exceptional students, faculty, and staff who exemplify the school’s commitment to professional and ethical standards and attributes, respect the policies and regulations that govern the school, and treat others in a collegial, respectful, and inclusive manner.
According to the KPSOM Student Code of Conduct, the professionalism attributes we expect for our learners include:
- Accountability: Demonstrates accountability, accepts responsibility for decisions. Works well in teams, openly identifies and learns from one’s own mistakes or shortcomings and speaks up to support team members in their efforts to do the same.
- Conscientiousness: Demonstrates preparedness, carefulness, and thoroughness in attending to details and other processes necessary to realize individual and team goals, including lifelong learning and improvement, and to ensure equitable outcomes.
- Discernment: Demonstrates awareness of the limitations and strengths of their own knowledge, skills, biases, and attitudes, and uses this awareness to continually identify areas for improvement and to seek support and guidance as needed.
- Humility: Questions and listens with the goal of arriving at a deeper understanding that benefits all relationships and interactions, including with patients, families, and professional colleagues. Embraces ambiguity and tensions among points of view with curiosity and actively listens to understand rather than only to react and respond.
- Respect: Seeks to understand and show due regard for the diverse perspectives, feelings, wishes, rights, and/or traditions of their patients, teachers, colleagues, team members, and the communities they serve.
- Truthfulness: Communicates actions and knowledge honestly, avoiding deception (by inclusion or omission) that might foreseeably harm others.
Rights and Responsibilities
The rights of students and all members of the school community are also protected by the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine’s and Kaiser Permanente’s policies, as well as by law. See the following for more information:
- KPSOM Non-Discrimination, Harassment-Free Environment, and Non-Retaliation Policy: This policy outlines sexual and gender-based harassment and the forms of sexual misconduct that violate the school’s standards; it identifies school and community resources and support available to all members of the school community; it describes the process for making a report of mistreatment or bias to the school or law enforcement; and it outlines school procedures for the review, investigation, and resolution of complaints against students, staff, and faculty.
- Positive Learning Environment and Student Mistreatment Policy (must be signed on to the Kaiser Permanente network to access): This policy outlines expectations of behaviors that promote a positive learning environment for educators, students, and others who are a part of the educational experience, and to identify, report, and address unprofessional behavior and mistreatment.
- Student Code of Conduct (must be signed on to the Kaiser Permanente network to access): This document outlines the conduct and standards of professional behavior that all students are required to meet while at the school, from matriculation to graduation. It also describes the process that follows when a student violates the code of conduct.
KPSOM students can also access the school’s policies related to the learning environment in the Student Portal (must be signed on to the Kaiser Permanente network for access).
Those who do not have access to the Kaiser Permanente network may email LearningEnvironment@kp.org with policy-related questions.
If you have concerns about retaliation or have experienced retaliation after making a learning environment report, contact the Office of Student Affairs at LearningEnvironment@kp.org.
Confidentiality and Privacy
Reports of mistreatment or bias submitted via the Learning Environment Reporting Form are confidential. While you may make a report anonymously, be aware that this may limit our ability to investigate the matter and to follow up with all concerned parties. All reports will be reviewed by the KPSOM Office of Student Affairs.
Our team is available to meet in person, by phone, or virtually with any student who has concerns about the learning environment. The first step is to email us at LearningEnvironment@kp.org.
Anne M. Eacker, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs; Associate Professor
Laura Hamilton, MA
Director of Student Affairs
Tashir Hampton, MEd
Inclusion and Well-Being Program Manager
Additional Resources for Students
For questions about reporting mistreatment and bias, email LearningEnvironment@kp.org.
If the safety of a student or other individual is at risk (e.g., due to physical or sexual assault, an impaired physician, or any egregious or urgent situation):
- Call 911.
- Next, visit the emergency room or take other actions appropriate to the situation.
- Then, once safe, contact Dr. Anne Eacker, Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
Download the Learning Environment Monitoring and Reporting flyer .
For more information, refer to the following: