About Us
The Office of Professionalism is an administrative arm of the CUIMC Office of Academic Affairs. The Office aims to provide and promote resources which strengthen a culture of professionalism. Additionally, the Office of Professionalism handles all process-oriented issues for the faculty, researchers, post-docs, and student officers pertaining to behavior not requiring the jurisdiction of OIE, Research Administration or Human Resources; however, we do work collaboratively with these entities.
Mission
Our mission is to foster an ethical and civil community within the medical center, in which individuals feel accepted, respected, and supported while growing in their respective careers. To that end, we support departments across Columbia University Irving Medical Center by providing faculty, researchers, students, and staff tools to promote and support professionalism, as well as providing resources and training to address professionalism lapses.
Vision
Our vision is to make Columbia University Irving Medical Center an institution where faculty, researchers, students, and staff are respected, supported, feel they belong and may thrive professionally in order to further CUIMC’s missions of education, research, patient care, and community outreach in a positive and welcoming environment.
Strategic Partners
The Office of Professionalism has strategic alliances with CUIMC Human Resources (HR), Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), Postdoctoral Affairs, the Ombuds Office, CUIMC Deans of Students, Cope Columbia, New York-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) Respect, Research Misconduct Compliance and Training, Public Safety, and others. Thus, those seeking help will be directed to other campus offices when issues require resources or compliance processes not within the scope of the responsibilities of the Office of Professionalism.
The Office collaborates with a broad range of campus partners to:
- resolve conflicts that detract from a productive, respectful work environment;
- to promote tolerance across differences; and
- to provide learning resources and other tools to promote and foster the development of communication and other skills that result in improved team work.
Our work supports academic units as well as individuals, using fair reporting processes and restorative principles of conflict resolution. Our goal is a culture and climate of teamwork, community, acceptance, respect, ethics, excellence, and trust across CUIMC. The degree to which we achieve our aspirations to be the best workplace depends upon building a community where all feel comfortable, respected and welcomed in our workday lives. To this end, the Office will work to disseminate and support the CUIMC Code of Values (CUIMC CARES).
Meet the Team
Kenneth Prager, MD
- Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center
- Associate Dean for Professionalism
- Chair, Ethics Committee
- Director of Clinical Ethics
Dionida X. Ryce, MBA, SHRM-SCP
- Assistant Vice President for Academic Appointments and Professionalism
Spencer Bennett, MEd, SHRM-CP
- Director of Compliance and Training
Contact Us
For general inquiries, please email professionalism@cumc.columbia.edu, or call: 212-305-1510
Share a Concern
Share a concern by emailing us: professionalism@cumc.columbia.edu, or submit a report.
Need more information?
Do you have questions or need more information before submitting a concern? Check out our consultations page.