How to Report
Submitting complaints of mistreatment, harassment, and neglect can be reported via several mechanisms. For more information on what these challenging behaviors are, please visit our page on Defining Negative Behaviors.
The primary referral mechanism is through the AMS, which creates a private report that goes directly to the AMS Liaison along with a copy to your email address. Upon receiving the report, the Liaison reaches out to the reporting student, faculty, or staff member within one business day to provide support, discuss options for next steps, and provide guidance on other resources. You can also reach out directly to the AMS Liaison.
Report a Challenging Behavior
Other Methods of Reporting
We realize that you may have others who you may prefer to speak with to help you make a referral. The following are alternatives to be able to submit a referral:
- Your Assistant Dean for your curriculum phase, the Associate Dean for the Curriculum, or the Vice Dean for Medical Education.
- Your supervisor or the Vice Dean for your department.
- The Society Dean or Student Affairs Dean.
- Submit an online report through the School of Medicine Student Affairs Office using the Mistreatment or Neglect Reporting Form.
- Submit a hardcopy report through box reporting, with boxes located outside the HEC 4th floor student learning spaces.
Maintaining Privacy and Preventing Retaliation
Submitting a referral can be intimidating, and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has measures to make the process easier. These includes our overall philosophy, privacy protections, and retaliation prevention and response. If privacy or retaliation concerns prevent you from using AMS, please speak with the AMS Liaison.
For more information on how we protect your privacy and prevent retaliation, please explore the dropdown menus below.
To ensure privacy, the School of Medicine created the Liaison for Professional Identity Development. This role ensures your information remains private when submitting or being referred. Our AMS reporting platform is a leader in data and privacy protection. The Liaison will explain how your privacy is maintained, including:
- Removing personal identifiers from reports as much as possible.
- Explaining next steps and who may access your report based on your choices.
- Allowing you to delay actions until a later time, such as after classes or rotations end.
In urgent cases, where safety is at risk, immediate action may be necessary without this discussion. Incidents of discrimination or sexual misconduct are referred to the CWRU Office of Equity and appropriate clinical campus offices. Mandated Reporters must share knowledge of sexual harassment or retaliation with the Title IX Coordinator. Activities at clinical campuses will be shared with their administrative offices (Cleveland Clinic, VA Medical Center, MetroHealth, University Hospitals, etc.).
*Any incidents of discrimination or violations related to sexual misconduct, Title IX, and the University or clinical campus’ Non-Discrimination Policy will be referred immediately to the CWRU Office of Equity and/or appropriate office of our clinical campuses. Please be advised that the individuals receiving these Incident Reports are Mandated Reporters and therefore obligated to share knowledge, notice and/or reports of sexual harassment or retaliation with the appropriate Title IX Coordinator. Activities occurring at any clinical campuses (and satellites) will be shared with the relevant administrative offices of those sites (including Cleveland Clinic, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, MetroHealth, University Hospitals, and others).
The School of Medicine defines retaliation per the University’s Non-Discrimination and No Retaliation Statement: "Retaliation is taking adverse action against someone who files a report via AMS or anyone involved in the process. It includes actions by those who refer or are referred, as well as their acquaintances, friends, and family. Independent action will be taken against anyone engaging in retaliation. Both the referrer and the referred are responsible for discouraging such actions and will be held accountable for their involvement."
CWRU's Non-Retaliation and Whistleblower Protection Policy aims to provide a positive work environment where employees are encouraged to report concerns.
If you believe you have experienced retaliation, contact the AMS Liaison.