The overriding goals and aims of the fellowship program are to create a base for the fellow to succeed towards independent practice and successful lifelong learning and a framework of expectations. When a fellow is struggling, it is the program's responsibility to offer support in an educational environment. Any academic or non-academic issues or concerns will be directed to the program director; this can originate from individuals and/or the Clinical Competency Committee who makes recommendations to the program director. The program director will discuss all issues and concerns with the individual fellow and determine further action as needed. The program director makes all final determinations regarding a fellow's status in the program.
Grounds for Discipline and/or Dismissal of a fellow for academic and non-academic reasons are delineated in the the Graduate Medical Education Program Fellowship Agreement.
The program follows the GME Discipline, Dismissal, Failure to Advance Policy and Procedure.
The fellowship program takes all complaints and grievances seriously and has processes in place to ensure that complaints and addressed appropriately and in a timely manner. Fellows are encouraged to bring any grievance to the program director. If such complaint or grievance is not settled to the satisfaction of the fellow, other steps may be taken. The fellow is encouraged to contact the Department of Medicine's Vice Chair of Education, James Nixon (see Department/Division Organization Chart), for further assistance.
Any fellow disciplined and/or dismissed for academic reasons may be able to grieve the action through the Conflict Resolution Process for Student Academic Complaints Policy. This grievance process is not intended as a substitute for the academic judgments of the faculty who have evaluated the performance of the trainee, but rather is based on a claimed violation of a rule, policy or established practice of the University or its programs.
Please see GME's Discipline, Dismissal, Failure to Advance Policy and Procedure.