
School of Medicine Policy
A Culture of Respect in the Learning Environment
Georgetown University School of Medicine is an institution rooted in the Catholic, Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, care of the whole person. The School of Medicine is committed to creating and sustaining an educational environment that fosters the values and virtues of mutual respect, trust, honesty, collegiality, compassion, and accountability. Such values and virtues are especially critical to effective relationships between teachers and learners, which are a significant force in the intellectual and ethical formation of future physicians. A teacher’s function as a role model for students is fundamental to the educational mission of a medical school.
Behaviors that fail to reflect and embody these values and virtues not only undermine the efficacy of the teacher-learner relationship, they also threaten the integrity of the educational mission itself.
The full Teacher-Learner Relationship & Procedures to Address Student Mistreatment Policy is located in Appendix C of the Student Handbook.
- Appendix C: Teacher-Learner Relationship & Procedures to Address Student Mistreatment
- Appendix D: Grievance Procedures to Investigate Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
- Appendix E: Office of the Ombudsperson
Expectations for Behavior
We Will Create and Sustain a Learning Environment that Fosters:
Full policy: Student Handbook Appendix C
Retaliatory Conduct is Prohibited.
Behaviors that Undermine the Learning Experience
Abuse
- Required to perform menial tasks with intent to humiliate or degrade.
- Unprofessional criticism primarily intended to belittle, embarrass, or humiliate.
- Asked to perform personal services.
Harassment
- Behaviors that are offensive, hostile, or intimidating.
- Can be verbal or physical in nature.
Discrimination
- Behaviors, decisions, actions, policies, and practices.
- Adversely affect students through disparate treatment on the basis of age, color, disability, family responsibilities, familial status, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, personal appearance, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income or any other factor prohibited by law.
Avenues to Report Mistreatment
As laid out in detail in the Teacher-Learner Relationship Policy, there are five avenues for reporting behaviors that undermine the Culture of Respect in the Learning Environment. The School of Medicine is committed to creating and sustaining a Culture of Respect. As a result, we take reports of mistreatment very seriously and act swiftly to investigate and take actions appropriate to the scenario.
Stop, Talk, Roll
Stop, Talk, Roll (STR) is a communication guidance tool that has been designed to provide suggested phrases and approaches that medical students and residents can use to address particular scenarios and defuse tense communication exchanges with a wide range of stakeholders.