Learning Environment Video Content

Understanding inappropriate and hurtful behaviors is crucial to all of us creating a safe, respectful culture at our medical school.

Mistreatment and Hostile Learning Environment

Watch a video* that shows examples of mistreatment (i.e., medical student asked to perform personal service, public humiliation of a medical student, and an offensive remark directed at a medical student) as well as a hostile learning environment (i.e., student repeatedly being ignored and disparaging speech directed at a resident).

Mistreatment

Examples of mistreatment include:

• Public humiliation
• Threat of or actual physical harm (i.e., hitting, kicking, slapping).
• Being subjected to unwanted sexual advances.
• Being subjected to offensive remarks related to gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation (directed at a student).
• Receiving lower grades or evaluations based on gender, race, or sexual orientation.
• Being required to provide personal service (i.e., shopping or babysitting).

Hostile Learning Environment

Examples of a Hostile Learning Environment include:

• When a student experiences disparaging speech and/or nonverbal communication about an individual other than a medical student, including humor that belittles, humiliates, or demeans an individual or a group 
• Shouting
• Displays of temper
• Behaviors contributing to a culture of negativity, rudeness, or intimidation
• Repeatedly being ignored by those in a teaching role

* Video used with permission from Vermont School of Medicine.