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School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center

Standards of conduct

Standards of conduct

Audio summary [01:50]



VCU School of Medicine Standards of Professional Behavior

These standards describe behaviors expected from all members of the School of Medicine community in all educational, clinical, research and administrative settings. Professionalism is expected during all interactions, whether face-to-face or via telephone, video, email or social networking technologies. Conduct, both on and off campus, must adhere to these standards.

Members of the SOM community will:

  • Recognize their positions as role models for others in all settings
  • Carry out academic, clinical and research responsibilities in a conscientious manner, make every effort to exceed expectations and make a commitment to lifelong learning
  • Treat everyone in the SOM community with sensitivity to diversity in culture, age, gender, disability, social and economic status, sexual orientation and other personal characteristics without discrimination, bias or harassment
  • Maintain patient, research subject and student confidentiality
  • Be respectful of the privacy of all members of the SOM community and avoid promoting gossip and rumor
  • Interact with all other members of the SOM community without arrogance and with respect and recognition of the roles played by each individual
  • Provide help or seek assistance for any member of the SOM community who is recognized as impaired in his/her ability to perform his/her professional obligations
  • Be mindful of the limits of one’s knowledge and abilities and seek help from others whenever appropriate
  • Abide by accepted ethical standards in scholarship, research and standards of patient care
  • Abide by the guidelines of the VCU Honor System and Rules and Procedures

Proper conduct in instructional settings

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The university is a community of learners. Students, as well as faculty, have a responsibility for creating and maintaining an environment that supports effective instruction. In order for faculty to provide and students to receive effective instruction in classrooms, laboratories, studios, online courses and other learning areas, the university expects students to conduct themselves in an orderly and cooperative fashion.

Definitions of mistreatment

The Association of American Medical Colleges describes eight general areas of student mistreatment:

  1. Public belittlement or humiliation
  2. Threats of physical harm or actual physical punishment
  3. Requirements to perform personal services, such as shopping
  4. Being subjected to unwanted sexual advances
  5. Being asked to perform sexual favors in exchange for grades
  6. Being denied opportunities for training because of gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation
  7. Being subjected to offensive remarks/names directed at you based on gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation
  8. Receiving lower grades or evaluations based on gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation

The AAMC recommends use of the Medical School Graduation Questionnaire, which the VCU School of Medicine embraces and regularly administers. In this way, we fulfill our learning environment guidelines to monitor issues and trends in the area of student mistreatment.