House Staff Committees
Rush house staff actively participate in several committees aimed at improving the working and learning environment at Rush. Learn more about our resident-run committees and how you can get involved.
House Staff Association
The House Staff Association (HSA) is responsible for representing Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) resident physicians in matters relating to:
- Facilitating optimal patient care
- Serving as a liaison between RUMC administration and house staff
- Negotiating with RUMC administration on matters relating to contracts, benefits and salary
- Ensuring quality education for all residents
- Advocating for improvement of facilities and working conditions
- Promoting mutually beneficial relations with Rush Medical College students
All Rush house staff are encouraged to participate in HSA events and be active advocates for wellness and education.
Meetings
HSA meetings are held every other month from 12 – 1 p.m.
HSA Leadership
- Jennifer Marsidi - PG3 Medicine-Pediatrics
- Brinda Ryali - PG3 Medicine-Pediatrics
Q&A with the House Staff Association
Co-presidents Lane Lagattuta, DO and Nicholas Skertich, MD introduce the committee that represents and advocates for Rush resident physicians
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
The House Staff Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee is a resident-run group whose purpose is to enhance the ability of Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) house staff to address the diverse patient population we serve.
Our mission is to create a more prosperous healing and working environment through the championing of the diverse communities we serve and hope to reflect. Our goal is to facilitate the purposeful creation and maintenance of a more diverse, equitable and inclusive Rush University Medical Center.
We actively recruit and nurture residents and fellows from underrepresented backgrounds so that the house staff more accurately reflects the diverse populations we serve. We work closely with Graduate Medical Education (GME) staff and the House Staff Association to encourage equitable practices for our patients and the house staff itself. We also use our platform and connection to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (requires Rush login) at RUMC to champion inclusion of all backgrounds in all arenas.
We are aim to focus on fostering anti-racism in the policies and behaviors of the Rush GME programs. Our GME stands ardently against discrimination in its many forms. We are focused on identifying what of our behaviors and policies are out of alignment with this stance. We aim to solidify our stance by bolstering investment, recruitment, and research in the behaviors and policies which promote greater diversity, equity, and inclusion for our house-staff and the communities we serve.
Meetings
The committee holds an open meeting every third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Searle Conference Center (Professional Building, fifth floor). Meetings details are provided via email each month.
DEI Committee Leadership
- Co-Chair: Ashanta Brady. MD – PGY-2, Internal Medicine – Pediatrics
- Co-Chair: Boss Povieng MD – PGY-2, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Faculty Liaison: Uttara Koul, MBBS – PGY-5, Neurocritical Care
- Program Director: Christian Casteel, DO – PGY-1, Emergency Medicine
- Secretary: Manavi Bhagwat, MD – PGY-1, Internal Medicine
- STRIVE Director: Anika Huq, MD – PGY-2, Internal Medicine
- Treasurer: Charalampos (Harry) Siotos, MD – Research Year, Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Medical Student Liaisons
- Margaret Brandon, MD – PGY-2, Internal Medicine
- Oscar Chen, MD – PGY-1, Ophthalmology
- Ololade Akinfemiwa, MD – PGY-1, Emergency Medicine
- Daniel Reyes, MD – PGY-1, Emergency Medicine
- John Paul Kolcun, MD – PGY-3, Neurological Surgery
Contact: RushDEICommittee@gmail.com
Q&A with the DEI Committee
Past president Bianca Williams, MD, MBA talks about creating and maintaining a more diverse, equitable and inclusive healing and working environment at Rush
Read the interview
Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Committee
The aim of the Patient Safety & Quality Improvement (PSQI) committee is to engage peer house staff in improving quality of care and patient safety in collaboration with the leadership at RUMC and GME. The committee seeks to create an environment that promotes patient safety and quality improvement by providing avenues for house staff to expand PSQI knowledge by presenting QI projects and receiving feedback, furthering best practices education and evaluating select PS/QI issues within RUMC.
Meetings
The PSQI committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 12 – 1 p.m. in the Searle Conference Center (Professional Building, fifth floor).
PSQI Leadership
- Cori Fukushima, MD - PG3 Neurology
- Allison Salk, MD - PG5, Complex Family Planning
Q&A with the Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Committee
Second-year internal medicine residents Joshua Thomas, MD and Athavi Jeevananthan, MD spotlight the committee working to promote patient safety and improve quality of care
Read the interview
Resident Committee on the Rush Environment (RES-CORE)
The Resident Committee on the Rush Environment (RES-CORE) is a resident-run committee with faculty and administrative support that is responsible for monitoring, adjudicating and promoting the Rush learning environment. This includes managing an anonymous online reporting tool (accessible through MedHub). that allows any resident or fellow to report a learning environment issue and individual instances of mistreatment (e.g., public humiliation, sexual harassment, racism, professionalism issues, etc.). The committee reviews reports and develops action plans for resolving any disputes, which could include collaboration with HR, Legal, and/or the Medical Staff Office. RES-CORE uses a restorative justice model to seek a constructive resolution to all reported issues. The committee is also responsible for recognizing and celebrating positive things happening in the learning environment that are reported.
RES-CORE Leadership
- Haley Zimmerman, MD - PG3, Internal Medicine
Contact: RES-CORE@rush.edu
Q&A with RES-CORE
Co-presidents (2021-22) Nithin Pusapati, MD, and Vishal Jani, DO, discuss the Resident Committee on the Rush Environment, which addresses concerns of house staff while supporting institutional change.