The Office of the Ombuds provides confidential, impartial, informal and independent conflict resolution and problem-solving assistance to the Washington University Medical Campus community. The office serves all students, residents, postdocs and fellows on the Medical Campus.
The Office of the Ombuds offers a safe place to voice university-related concerns and review options to manage and address them. The office also drives change on campus. It identifies patterns and trends, shares feedback and, when appropriate, makes recommendations about medical school policy or practice to the people with the power to act on them.
Conversations with the ombuds are voluntary and free. The ombuds holds all communications in strict confidence. The only exceptions are a court order or an imminent risk of serious physical harm.
Reasons students visit the ombuds include, but are not limited to:
- Interpersonal disputes
- Administrative roadblocks or bureaucratic runarounds
- WashU policies and procedures
- Career progression and development
- Grade disputes
- Ethical dilemmas
- Research-related matters including authorship, proprietorship, conflict of interest or scientific misconduct
- Abrasive conduct, incivility or problematic behavior
- Unfair treatment
- Harassment or discrimination
- Health and safety
- Threats or retaliation
- Advising relationships
- Billing disputes or tuition concerns
What to expect
The ombuds will listen to your concerns, help you think through your situation, and, together with you, identify and evaluate possible options for moving forward. At all times, you retain control over how your concern will be addressed.
Contact us
To schedule a confidential consultation, contact us at:
Alison Antes, PhD: alisonantes.ombuds@gmail.com
Mwiza Ushe, MD: mwizaushe.ombuds@gmail.com
Please note that, given the limits of technology, confidentiality cannot be ensured in email communications. Thus, visitors are advised against sending sensitive information via email.