Welcome to the latest edition of the You said... We did... newsletter, which shares updates about how we are responding to student suggestions for building an even more vibrant and enriching learning community at Yale School of Medicine (YSM).
So that you can easily track improvements, we post past You Said... We Did... updates on the YSM LCME webpage, organized by topic. If you have questions about any update item, please share your thoughts with me at jessica.illuzzi@yale.edu. We want to ensure this is a useful resource!
You said… You want to feel safe walking between the Amistad Parking Garage and YNHH’s York Street Campus.
We did...
Since the Air Rights Garage has limited capacity, many of us (including me) park in Amistad Garage. Please consider using walking escorts, which you can access through the LiveSafe app, for the walk between YNHH and the Amistad Garage if you are leaving late. You will often see me doing this, too!
We have worked with Yale’s parking team to extend the time attendants are in Amistad Garage on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. On weekends and holidays, an attendant is present in the garage from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additionally, there is a security officer assigned to Cedar Street, Amistad Park, and Garage between 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and again after the building closes until 10:30 p.m. After 10:30 p.m., a unit patrols this and the adjacent area until 6:30 a.m. Please note, officers assigned to this area may be called to perform other functions such as walking escorts and other calls for service.
You weren’t sure if your health care providers could supervise and assess you in clinical or didactic settings.
We did...
We realized we need to remind you about the policy and procedure on this issue. Specifically, health professionals who provide health services to medical students, including surgical, medical, and psychiatric care, should have no involvement in the academic assessment or promotion of the medical student in any setting. A faculty member or resident who recognizes that they have been assigned a student who is a current or former patient must notify the relevant curriculum director to facilitate an assignment change.
As a student, if you are assigned to a course, clerkship, or other educational activity with a treating health care provider, you will be granted an alternative assignment. You should contact the relevant curriculum director or Dean Francis to have the assignment changed.
Clinical rotations in Bridgeport needed attention.
We did...
Bridgeport Hospital is one of our core clinical teaching settings staffed by outstanding clinical faculty, many who trained at YSM or in the YNHHS, and who care for patients with a wide array of clinical conditions. In July of 2023, we placed a temporary hold on sending Yale medical students to Bridgeport Hospital, so that we could address several concerns:
1. Students lacked means of reliable and safe transportation to the hospital.
2. Some settings had an issue of overcrowding of learners.
3. Some settings needed support to improve the learning environment.
We have worked closely with the enthusiastic and committed leadership at Bridgeport Hospital to address each of these challenges.
In addition, we have launched a pilot program to address the travel issues to Bridgeport, described in the December 1, 2023 Curriculum Update. Some students have asked if they can receive reimbursement if they must travel alone to Bridgeport for night shifts. The answer is: Yes!
You said...
Some are confused about the difference between a longitudinal coach and an academic advisor.
We did...
Each MD student is assigned an academic advisor, whose role is to provide academic and career guidance throughout medical school. Academic advisors provide guidance about scheduling clerkships, subinternships, and electives, choosing a specialty, preparing to apply for residency, meeting graduation requirements, 5th year options, joint degree programs, and integrating the thesis requirement.
While academic advisors have been part of the MD Program for many years, the 18 longitudinal coaches are new this year, stemming from the 2022 Yale School of Medicine Strategic Plan for Medical Education. Starting with the MD Class of 2027, a longitudinal coach is assigned to each student. The coach will work with the student throughout the curriculum, supporting the student's professional development and helping students monitor their progress in meeting the milestones for each of the nine MD Program competencies. Coaches assist students in identifying progress and achievement, as well as areas for improvement or potential concern across the four-year curriculum. They work with each of their students to develop goals and action plans that are customized to the student's needs and learning style. Importantly, the coaches play no role in evaluating students or in writing the MSPE. This is a critical initiative that supports the longevity and success of the Yale System, while also meeting accreditation requirements.
You said...
You missed some of my YSWD messages, Dean Schwartz’s Curriculum Update, or messages from Dean Brown.
We did...
We have started an education campaign (including this message) to spread the word about your “focused” folder and your “other” folder in your Outlook email. Please check your “other” folder for important messages from me, Dean Brown, and YSM, like the Curriculum Update prepared by Dean Schwartz. (Because these messages are sent to a large audience, Outlook by default often sends them to your “other” folder.)
If you want group emails from certain senders (for example, Dean Schwartz) to instead go to your focused folder, simply right click a message from Dean Schwartz in your “other” folder, and designate it as “Always Moved to Focused.” If you need technical support, please see this page from Microsoft or you can contact the Yale ITS helpdesk.
If you hear of classmates who have missed messages, please share this guidance!
You said...
It is helpful to be reminded of well-being resources.
Over the summer, we updated our policy and procedure on mistreatment and harassment. The policy states, in part, “We embrace our responsibility to create, support, and facilitate a learning environment for our students so that they witness and experience a culture of respect, collegiality, kindness, and cooperation within the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) community,” and that “YSM does not tolerate any incidents of mistreatment or harassment of students by faculty, health professionals, staff, or other trainees. YSM encourages students to report any incidents of mistreatment or harassment, whether directed at themselves or others. YSM takes allegations of such behavior seriously and will investigate and respond to reports of mistreatment or harassment.”
The full policy, as well as detailed guidance on where and how to report any mistreatment, harassment, or other unprofessional behavior that does occur, is in the policy and procedure posted on our policy webpage. Confidentiality is a high priority, as is dealing with each incident in ways that are respectful and constructive. If you have questions, I encourage you to speak with me, Dean Francis, your advisor, or members of OAPD, DICE, or SHARE. These are always good places to start if you don’t know what to do about a particular situation.
In late February or early March, we will hold our second annual Town Hall on the learning environment, where we will share information and respond to any questions or concerns you have. We will let you know the date for the Town Hall soon!
You said...
You hoped I could have set office hours, for anyone to come talk to me without scheduling an appointment.
We did...
Starting February 13, I will have office hours every Tuesday, from 2 to 4 p.m. My office is on the third floor of Harkness (ESH300), right near where the Curriculum team sits. Please come by with any questions, concerns, and ideas!
You said...
You wanted a shuttle that stopped in Wooster Square at night.
We did...
We investigated the options with the Yale Transit team and learned the following. The 333 Cedar Express shuttle runs every day from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., except holidays, and includes the Olive Street and State Street intersection, on the edge of Wooster Square.
This express service has one pick up location at 333 Cedar St, and has “To Door” service: When boarding the shuttle, please inform the driver of your “To Door” destination that is within the shuttle’s operating boundaries. The route/boundaries are as follows: from 333 Cedar, it travels northbound until it reaches Elm St, westbound until it reaches Howe St, and eastbound until it reaches Olive St. (at State Street).
I also want to share this map, which shows the boundaries for all the shuttles.
We have added this issue to the agenda for the next YSM Safety & Security Committee, to advocate for expanding the 333 Cedar Express Shuttle route to Olive and Chapel Streets.
You said...
You wanted more opportunities to review anatomy.
We did...
To help with this, we have integrated VR technology into the Anatomy course. We also appointed three new associate course directors for Anatomy, one in biomedical imaging (Dr. Kirsten Cooper), one in pathology (Dr. Harry Sanchez), and one in surgery (Dr. Adnan Prsic). We added opportunities to review critical anatomy in the Capstone Course for fourth-year students preparing for residency, and we introduced a new elective entitled "Advanced Surgical Anatomy" for students in the ATP who are considering procedural specialties.
I look forward to your questions or feedback.
Sincerely,
Jessica Illuzzi, MD, MS
Deputy Dean for Education
Harold W. Jockers Professor of Medical Education
