Learning Environment Advocacy Committee
The Learning Environment Advocacy Committee (LEAC) is a committee composed of faculty, staff, students, residents, and Carilion health professionals appointed by the dean.
The committee is charged with:
- promoting a learning environment that best supports student education;
- raising awareness about what constitutes mistreatment and unprofessional behavior through educational sessions for medical students, residents, and faculty;
- investigating allegations of mistreatment and unprofessional behavior in the learning environment; and
- resolving reported incidents through a committee process that determines appropriate disciplinary action to address the unacceptable behavior.
Chair
Felicity Adams-Vanke, MD, Committee Chair
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
VTCSOM Faculty Representatives
- N.L. Bishop, DMin
Faculty/Senior Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion and Student Vitality - Chad J. DeMott, MD
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
- Emily Faulks, MD
Professor of Surgery - Robert Moylan, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology
- Badr Ratnkaran, MBBS
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine - David O'Neil, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
VTCSOM Student Representatives
- Katie Bower
Class of 2028 - Matthew Drescher
Class of 2027 - Anvitha Metpally
Class of 2027 - Alexis Dowiak
Class of 2026 - Lilian Brouwer
Class of 2026 - Alana Hull
Class of 2025 - Merly Konathapally
Class of 2025
VTCSOM/CarilionClinic Resident/Fellow Representatives
- Shannon Howard, MD'
- Akhil Pola, MBBS
- Derek Schaap, MD
- Elise Zhao, MD
Committee Advisors
- Jed Gonzalo, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education
- Aubrey Knight, MD
Phase 2 Curriculum Director - David Musick, PhD
Senior Dean for Faculty Affairs - Rebecca Pauly, MD
Vice Dean - Lisa Uherick, MD
Chief Well-Being Officer - Amanda Murchison, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs
VTCSOM Staff Representative
- Beth Ipock
Standardized Patients
CarilionClinic Administration Representative
- Tara Wiedeman
Senior Director, Education and Organizational Development
Administrative Support
- Beth Bond
Administrative Support
Carilion Clinic Nursing Representative
- Jerrie Patterson, RN
Carilion Clinic (Nursing) Unit Director