July is always an exciting month as we welcome your newest classmates to the WWAMI-ly.
Last week, you received a message from Dr. Dellit, Dr. Chiu, and me outlining our focused communication plan as we prepare for the upcoming medical school accreditation site visit from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in March 2026. I will be reaching out monthly to share information, policies, and resources that directly impact your learning experience. Our goal is to ensure you have the support and tools you need to thrive during your time at UWSOM.
This month’s communication is focused on:
Where do I find?
- Policies
- Study/lounge space
- Learning environment support
Find UW SOM MD Program Policies here.
Policies will be directly linked on your Canvas course pages. Each month, I will highlight a few key policies.
Study & Lounge Spaces
Study and lounge spaces across regional campuses are posted in the left-hand column of the LCME webpage. Your Foundation dean is available for questions.
UW Medicine Policy on Professional Conduct and the Learning Environment
Whether you are just beginning your medical school journey, Triple I and other programs this summer, I encourage you to take a moment to revisit the Policy on Professional Conduct and reflect on what professionalism means to you as a student and future physician.
Equally important is our shared responsibility to foster a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. The UWSOM Mistreatment Policy makes it clear: mistreatment of students by faculty, staff, or peers is prohibited. Please review the policy and the examples of mistreatment behaviors.
If you experience or witness mistreatment, you can report it through any of the following options:
- Contact Dr. Melinda Frank, Director of the Learning Environment, at mmfrank@uw.edu or (206) 616-1816
- Submit feedback via aLERT, the Learning Environment Feedback Tool
- Include feedback in any UWSOM evaluation
- Speak with any UWSOM dean
Every report is reviewed and followed up. To support transparency, the Learning Environment team recently launched the Learning Environment Feedback Tracker. I also encourage you to explore the 2025 Learning Environment Report, which shares aggregated data from student feedback and highlights key initiatives aimed at improving both the Foundations and Clinical Phases, efforts driven by students, faculty, staff, and leadership.
We’ve heard from a few students who asked how UWSOM addresses retaliation after reporting mistreatment. I want to take a moment to reassure you: retaliation is not tolerated. The University’s Executive Order 31 (EO 31), which outlines UW’s nondiscrimination policy, explicitly prohibits retaliation against individuals who raise concerns or participate in investigations. Your voice is vital to creating a respectful and supportive environment, and there are strong policies in place to protect you.
While many of you are immersed in coursework or research this summer, I also hope you’re able to take some time to enjoy the beauty of the season wherever you are.
Suzanne
Suzanne Allen, MD, MPH
Senior Vice Dean for Academic, Rural & Regional Affairs
University of Washington School of Medicine