Office of the Learning Environment

Learning Environment and Professionalism (LEAP) Committee Annual Report for April 2025- April 2026

Between April 2025 and April 2026 133 professionalism accolades and 68 concerns were submitted. 

Additional highlights from the past year included:  launching a quarterly learning environment newsletter, transitioning our secure and private reporting platform to Maxient and providing additional Professionalism training in the clerkship setting.

Professionalism Concerns:

• 28 concerns were reported within the pre-clinical setting. 42 concerns were reported within the clinical setting and 
• 21 of all the concerns involved student to student interactions.
• All concerns were reviewed and addressed by the Director of the Learning Environment and the LEAP Executive Committee.
• The majority of the concerns were addressed via a discussion with the Director of the Learning Environment, a Cup of Coffee Conversation or were track only (no specific intervention).

Professionalism Accolades: 

• Of the 133 professionalism accolades submitted - 44% were for faculty and 40% were for residents.

Please email the Office of the Learning Environment at officelearningenvironment@med.uvm.edu for a copy of the complete LEAP annual report. 

The LEAP Committee is composed of faculty, residents, medical students, and staff from the Larner College of Medicine and the University of Vermont Health Network. 

The Learning Environment and Professionalism (LEAP) Committee plays a crucial role in reviewing and recommending initiatives to support professional behavior in both the pre-clinical and clinical learning environments. 

    Co-Chairs:

• Melissa Davidson, M.D.
• Liz Hunt, M.D.

Permanent Members:

• Director of the Learning Environment- Liz Hunt, M.D.
• Learning Environment and Professionalism Consultant - Nathalie Feldman, M.D.
• Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education/Designated Institutional Official - Melissa Davidson, M.D.
• Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education - Christa Zehle, M.D.
• Assistant Dean for Student Affairs - LCOM UVM CT Campus - Jennifer Clementi, M.D.
• Associate Dean for Students, Karen George, M.D., M.P.H.
• Quality Improvement Partner Jeffords Institute for Quality - Julie Cole
• Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion - Margaret Tandoh, M.D.
• Nursing representative - Betsy Hassan
• Program Specialist, Office of Medical Education - Cristin Gildea

Faculty Representatives:

• Judy Lewis, M.D.

Resident Representatives:

• Erin Dagostino, M.D

Medical Student Representatives:

• Class of 2027 - Lindsey Gleason, Alexia Amaio, Cassie Chin, Anthony Jeong (CT Campus), Shani Legore 
• Class of 2028 - Jess Fitzgerald, Kate Bidgood, Audrey Cussen and Emily Hovan (CT Campus) 
• Class of 2029- Maxwell Ingram, Daron Forohar, and Elle Hill (CT Campus) 

The LEAP executive committee reviews all concerns received and determines adjudication. 

The LEAP executive committee members include:  

• Director of the Learning Environment- Liz Hunt, M.D.
• Learning Environment and Professionalism Consultant - Nathalie Feldman, M.D.
• Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education/Designated Institutional Official - Melissa Davidson, M.D.
• Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education - Christa Zehle, M.D.
• Assistant Dean for Student Affairs - Larner UVM CT Campus - Jennifer Clementi, M.D.
• Associate Dean for Students, Karen George, M.D., M.P.H.

Medical Student Representatives:

• Class of 2027 - Lindsey Gleason, Alexia Amaio, Cassie Chin, Anthony Jeong (CT Campus), Shani Legore 
• Class of 2028 - Jess Fitzgerald, Kate Bidgood, Audrey Cussen and Emily Hovan (CT Campus) 
• Class of 2029- Maxwell Ingram, Daron Forohar, and Elle Hill (CT Campus) 

Visit the LEAP Student Representatives page