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Max Rady College of Medicine | Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Supporting professional, accountable and respectful learning environments
Message from the Office of Professionalism
Welcome to our second update from the Office of Professionalism (OP) for Max Rady College of Medicine. Our goal is to foster learning and working environments rooted in respect, accountability and compassion.
In this issue, we highlight key activities, upcoming opportunities and resources available to support you as learners and emerging professionals.
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What we’ve been working on
Professional Unsuitability By-Law approved – College of Medicine The University of Manitoba Senate approved the Max Rady College of Medicine Professional Unsuitability By-Lawhttps://umanitoba.ca/health-sciences/rady-faculty-health-sciences-policies#section-18 on June 24, 2026. The new by-law, which comes into effect on August 1, 2026, establishes a clear and transparent framework for addressing concerns related to a learner's professional suitability for practice while emphasizing procedural fairness, remediation where appropriate and accountability. It also supports restorative approaches for lower-level concerns, recognizing that many professionalism issues are best addressed through education, reflection and learning.
This milestone reflects the collaborative efforts of many individuals across the College and the University who contributed to developing a framework that supports learners, upholds professional standards and helps foster respectful and safe learning environments.
ConfidenceLine launched July 1, 2026 Creating environments where people feel safe to raise concerns remains one of our highest priorities. That's why we're excited to introduce ConfidenceLinehttps://umanitobaspeakup.confidenceline.com/.
We know that raising a concern can feel difficult. Many people worry about being identified, not knowing what will happen next or whether their concern is significant enough to report.
ConfidenceLine is a secure, third-party platform that offers an additional way to safely share concerns about learning and working environments. It provides the option to remain anonymous while enabling two-way communication with the Office of Professionalism allowing for guidance, dialogue and appropriate follow up while protecting privacy.
ConfidenceLine can be used to raise concerns related to:
* Unprofessional behaviour * Disrespectful interactions * Discrimination or racism * Harassment or sexual violence * Violence * Situations where guidance or support is needed We hope ConfidenceLine makes it easier for members of our community to ask questions, seek guidance and raise concerns early, helping us address issues before they grow.
College Speak Up leads & Specialized Support retreat – May 28, 2026 On May 28, 2026 the Office of Professionalism hosted a half-day retreat for college Speak Up leads and Specialized Support representatives.
This dedicated time created space for participants to step back from day-to-day responsibilities and focus on reflection, connection and shared learning. Speak Up leads play a critical role in supporting learners, responding to concerns and strengthening learning environments across the Colleges.
One of the highlights of the retreat was the opportunity for Speak Up Leads from across the Colleges to learn from one another. These conversations help us build consistency, strengthen relationships and ensure people responding to concerns feel supported in this important work.
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Trends and insights from the past six months
Total reports January 2026 to June 2026
106 incident reports
Category of reports*
* Discrimination - 13 * Disrespectful behaviour - 44 * General concern/feedback - 41 * Not enough information - 1 * Personal harassment - 2 * Racism - 6 * Sexual violence - 7 * Unprofessional behaviour - 12 * Violence - 3 * There may be multiple categories for one incident
Outcomes
* Advice provided - 20 * Education Intervention - 3 * No resolution - 3 * Not Pursued - 24 * No Reply from Reporter - 8 * OP - Expectation - Setting Conversation - 4 * Referral to PMA - Feedback Conversation - 28 * Referral to Regulatory Body - 1 * Referral - Other UM Office(s) - 6 * Referral to External Organization - 2
Speak Up: Report from the Speak Up button Ad hoc: Direct contact with the Office of Professionalism Mistreatment: Report from end-of-rotation evaluation in Entrada
Case file examples
Preamble The following case file examples are drawn from real reports received by the Office of Professionalism. All information has been fully de-identified to protect the privacy of learners, faculty and staff.
Details have been summarized and anonymized and examples are shared solely for educational and illustrative purposes, to demonstrate the range of concerns received and the types of responses undertaken by the Office of Professionalism.
Speak Up report A concern was raised regarding comments made in the workplace that were perceived as disrespectful toward immigrants and created discomfort for staff members. The concern was shared with nursing leadership for awareness and appropriate follow up, highlighting the importance of maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace.
Ad hoc Learners met with the Office of Professionalism to discuss ongoing concerns involving an individual that they felt was affecting their well-being. Guidance, support and information about available resources were provided and their concerns were documented.
Mistreatment report A learner described an overall positive educational experience with supportive attending physicians while also raising concerns about team dynamics on an inpatient unit. Concerns related to interactions with members of the health-care team and their impact on the learning environment were documented. In accordance with the reporter’s wishes, the concern was not forwarded to the program. The information was documented and retained for data collection and trend-monitoring purposes.
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Spotlight: Professionalism in practice
Each quarter we highlight practical tools to support everyday professionalism.
When people hear "Speak Up," they often think it means filing a formal report. In reality, speaking up can take many forms.
It might mean:
* Asking a respectful question when something doesn't feel right. * Checking in with someone who may have been affected. * Seeking advice before deciding what to do. * Having a difficult conversation. * Using the Speak Up process or ConfidenceLine when additional support is needed. You don't have to navigate challenging situations alone. Whether you're unsure how to respond, need guidance, or want to explore your options, the Office of Professionalism is here to help.
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How to connect with us
The Office of Professionalism is here to support learners at every stage.
Email: professionalism@umanitoba.camailto:professionalism@umanitoba.ca Office hours available upon request
* Confidential consultations * Restorative conversations * Navigation of mistreatment, boundary concerns, conflict and team dynamics * Education sessions tailored to your cohort
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to creating respectful, supportive and accountable learning and working environments.
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