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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