Peer advocates are available to listen to students who have experiences or incidents that leave them feeling uncomfortable. These experiences may involve some level of mistreatment, abuse or harassment either of themselves or others, but are not limited to these sorts of experiences. Any situation that a student wishes to share is appropriate. The peer advocate’s role is to be a sounding board, to help the student find options and solutions and to possibly suggest other confidantes. Each class selects two peer advocates by anonymous ballot, usually one male and one female. Advocates receive some informal training in counseling skills. The advocates then become part of a committee of concerned faculty and staff members who monitor and document incidents of mistreatment throughout the medical school community.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Here are the current YSM Peer Advocates:
Melissa (melissa.herrin@yale.edu),YSM-I
Hiam (hiam.naiditch@yale.edu), YSM-I
Mona (mona.guo@yale.edu), YSM-II
Dippy (dipankan.bhattacharya@yale.edu), YSM-II
Caroline (caroline.greenberg@yale.edu), YSM-III
Tom (thomas.gilliland@yale.edu), YSM-III
Dinah (dinah.foer@yale.edu), YSM-IV
Jorge (jorge.ramallo@yale.edu), YSM-IV
Crystal (crystal.piper@yale.edu), YSM-V
John (john.millet@yale.edu), YSM-V
This program was started in an effort to provide a completely confidential and non-threatening choice for students wishing to explore problems, especially those associated with being on the wards. The Offices of Student Affairs, Women in Medicine and Multicultural Affairs as well as any trusted faculty member of a student’s choice are also always available to hear about student concerns.
The Office of Student Affairs can be reached at 785-2644 or contact Nancy Angoff at 737-2169.
SUPPORT SERVICES AT YALE
1. Yale Health Plan. 55 Lock Street;http://yalehealth.yale.edu/. Whether or not you have chosen to purchase the hospitalization piece of the Yale Health Plan, Basic Coverage is offered at no charge and includes preventive health and medical services in the departments of Mental Health & Counseling, Student Health, Gynecology, and Health Education. In addition, treatment for urgent medical problems can be obtained twenty-four hours a day through Acute Care.
You may consult with Mental Health & Counseling about problems related to mood, coping, relationships, stress, anxiety, etc. You may go directly to Yale Health or call to make an appointment.
Mental Health & Counseling Services (203-432-0290)
Urgent Care (203-432-0123) open 24 hours a day (on call psychiatrist)
Student Health Department (203-432-0312)
Substance Abuse Counselor, Maury Steigman (203-432-7366)
2. Office of Student Affairs. Dean Nancy Angoff (203) 737-2169 or cell phone (203) 606-1707,is available at any time to speak with you regarding any problems whether they are of a personal, academic or career nature. Dr. Angoff does not serve as a personal counselor to you but will work closely with you to make sure that you are directed to and receive the help that you need.
3. Peer Advocates.These trusted student listeners are available to you at any time to hear about your concerns regarding experiences you have had during medical school that make you feel uncomfortable. They can be contacted anonymously. Their names and phone numbers are listed on a plastic card which you have been given to carry. If you have misplaced your card, please contact Student Affairs.
4. SHARE: Information, Advocacy, and Support. 24-hour hotline (203) 432-2000;http://sharecenter.yale.edu/. SHARE, the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education Center, is a primary Yale resource. Trained counselors are available at any time of day or night via their direct hotline to speak with students, their supporters, or other community members with questions or concerns. These conversations are kept completely confidential; callers do not even need to give their names. Along with providing support, SHARE Counselors have crucial information about medical, legal, and disciplinary options, and help callers make their own decisions about how to proceed. For Yale students who do choose to take legal or disciplinary action, SHARE Counselors can facilitate those processes and serve as advocates. SHARE works closely with the Yale Police Department as well as the various disciplinary boards.
5. Office of the Ombudsperson. Confidential line (203) 737-4100.The Ombuds Office is a neutral and safe resource within YSM where students can bring issues with which they are concerned. Merle Waxman, the Ombudsperson, will help find solutions, options and strategies for dealing with a particular concern or complaint, refer to other resources and advocates, and mediate or facilitate conversations between two or more people or groups. Merle Waxman is also the Title IX Coordinator for the School of Medicine who can help with issues related to gender inequality.
6. Office of Multicultural Affairs. Woody Lee, MD (203) 785-7545,is available to all students. He is especially involved with minority students and students in the LGBTQ community increasing the quality of their life at Yale, but he is interested in hearing from anyone. Students with a problem around discrimination based on race or ethnic identity should feel free to consult Dr. Lee.
7. Chaplain’s Office. Sharon M.K. Kugler, Yale University Chaplain (203) 432-1869;http://chaplain.yale.edu/grads. The Chaplain’s Office offers resources for students who are grieving, confidential conversations about any topic (religious or not), and connections to religious groups of any denomination on campus or in the New Haven area. Contact Associate University Chaplain Candice Provey atcandice.provey@yale.edufor assistance.
8. Office on Disabilities. Judy York (203) 432-2324; judith.york@yale.edu, is an outstanding resource for students with disabilities. If you have questions about whether or not you have a disability requiring any sort of reasonable accommodation, feel free to discuss it confidentially with Dean Angoff.
9. Office of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) Resources. Maria Trumpler, Director, (203) 432-0309;maria.trumpler@yale.edu, is a resource available to all students university- wide.
10. The Office of International Student Servicescan help international students with immigration regulations, visa issues and other matters. More information can be found on the OISS web site atwww.yale.edu/oiss. Walk-in or call anytime. There is always an advisor on-call to assist during regular business hours. Call (203) 432-2305 or email questions tooiss@yale.edu.
11. The University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct (UWC). (203) 432-1834;http://provost.yale.edu/uwc. The UWC on Sexual Misconduct is available to answer informal inquiries and fairly and expeditiously address formal and informal complaints of sexual misconduct across the entire Yale community. Through the Provost’s Office, it is comprised of faculty, administrative, and student representatives drawn from throughout the University, including YSM. Core UWC members (listed on the UWC website) are available for exploratory conversations or to receive complaints.
12. YSM Grievance Board on Sexual Harassment: Informal Resolution;http://medicine.yale.edu/sha. The YSM Grievance Board is another option for informal resolution of sexual misconduct cases within the Yale School of Medicine. The Board stresses confidentiality, takes steps to protect complainants from retaliation, and explores alternative channels for redress. Copies of the procedures and a list of members (including student members) are available on the website. Faculty, medical students, and postdoctoral fellows may consult any of the members of the board informally, or may opt to bring an informal or a formal complaint to the University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct.