Resource Navigator Program

What do Resource Navigators do? 

Resource Navigators offer a compassionate and secure space for Department of Medicine employees to share and process workplace experiences that may have impacted one’s sense of belonging, inclusion or well-being. (Note: Resource Navigators currently serve Department of Medicine employees only).

Experiencing something concerning in the workplace may be uncomfortable and may cause one to think: What did I just experience? Why do I feel this way?  What are my options? Resource Navigators are here to listen and learn about experiences and concerns while providing available resources. 

What is a Resource Navigator’s Purpose?

The purpose of Resource Navigators is to listen to concerns and share resources. Available resources and next steps may vary based on the nature of the concern and may include additional information about connecting with offices on campus. At times, Resource Navigators may help make those campus connections, as well. 

These efforts are centered on the purpose of Resource Navigators: listen to concerns and share information about available resources, when applicable. Consulting with a Resource Navigator is informal to gather clarity on your circumstances and needs as you navigate your Department of Medicine workplace experience.

What Information do Resource Navigators Provide?

Resource Navigators share information about available resources. In addition to listening, Resource Navigators are here to share information about support resources that are available within the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and University of Washington campus wide.

A Resource Navigator will also be able to provide information about available options and related next steps as individuals navigate their situation. 

We understand some individuals may prefer to navigate their situation on their own, and we merely wish to remind everyone that Resource Navigators are trained to help in the process of navigating resources, given the complexities that may arise within matters and the institution.

What services do Resource Navigators NOT provide?

Resource Navigators do not:

• Replace Human Resources (HR)
• Address performance concerns
• Handle formal HR complaints or investigations
• Handle emergency situations
• Offer mediation between individual parties 
• Provide consultations to employees outside of the Department of Medicine 

meet our navigators

Navigators can provide a safe space to express concerns, help to navigate through the resources and options available and provide conflict resolution coaching. 

 

Leila supports her division faculty and fellows with everything from on-site onboarding to managing rotation schedules and educational conferences. As the sleep medicine fellowship administrator, she is the point of contact for the nationwide candidates who apply to the program each year, and once onboard, she helps guide fellows throughout their one-year program.

She particularly enjoys the diverse and passionate people that make up the UW.

Leila credits her role as a Bias Navigator as her way of helping learn more about one another and celebrate diversity.

 

Andréa received her undergraduate degree in psychology, with a minor in Spanish from the University of Arizona and obtained her master of science in industrial organizational psychology, graduating from Northcentral University in 2022.

She has served in her role as assistant to the directors for over seven years, in which she manages the onboarding and recruitment of residents in addition to many special projects.

As the primary counterpart to the assistant program directors for diversity and inclusion, wellness, and professional development, Andréa plans several additional program events throughout the year and has collaborated on a number of scholarly projects and presentations relating to these topics. 

 

Lori received her master of arts degree in speech communication from the University of Washington in Seattle where she studied organizational and interpersonal communication focusing on listening skill development in complex organizations. Since then she has managed, led, and coordinated groups where she has integrated listening as an essential human activity in a variety of roles.

Lori is a relationship-oriented communicator with a passion for serving others, connecting people with the resources they need to be successful, and has worked at UW Medicine for fifteen years.

On the weekends, she enjoys connecting with her family and community, dance classes, and nature walks.

contact a Resource Navigator

When do I reach out to a Resource Navigator?

Reach out to a Resource Navigator when you’re seeking a listening ear and would like to reflect on a workplace experience that may have impacted your sense of belonging, inclusion or well-being. This may include moments of discomfort, perceived unfairness, or interpersonal harm. 

For HR-related matters such as performance or formal complaints, please contact Human Resources directly. If it is initially unclear as to who to contact, a Resource Navigator may be able to clarify this. 

How do Resource Navigators assist with connecting people to offices at the university?

Resource Navigators will provide campus office contact information, when applicable, and at times may facilitate that contact, as well. Following a meeting with a Resource Navigator, the employee who submitted the Request to Connect form will most often decide whether they wish to connect with other offices and resources. 

This may include the University of Washington Civil Rights Compliance Office (CRC). It would be at that time that an employee could further share their concern and have it reviewed for a possible formal investigation and reviewed for available support resources. Please note: there are certain instances (e.g., sexual misconduct, discrimination) where Resource Navigators may be required to report the concern. 

How do I contact a Resource Navigator?

Contact a Resource Navigator by completing the Request to Connect form below. Please review this site, to include the helpful reminders section below, prior to completing the Request to Connect form AND prior to submitting it to a Department of Medicine Resource Navigator. 

Before submitting a Request to Connect form, please review these helpful reminders:

The following helpful reminders outline related topics about public records requests, CRC and emergency resources.

As with all UW emails, records or reports, to include information shared in the Request to Connect form below and records shared with Resource Navigators, they may be subject to public records requests or subject to release under federal and state law. The Resource Navigator program is neither a formal investigative nor an oversight body and does not determine if an incident is unlawful.

Under UW Executive Order No. 81, UW’s policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, University employees are required to share information with CRC in specific situations. The CRC Employee Reporting Obligations page outlines the situations in which employees are obligated to report as well as the types of prohibited conduct that must be reported. 

UW Employees are obligated to report to CRC when the following apply:

• When they learn of potential prohibited conduct involving a student.
• When they learn of potential prohibited conduct within their line of supervision.
• When they are Human Resources professionals who learn of potential prohibited conduct that occurred in the UW workplace.*

*Note: Resource Navigators are not Human Resources professionals.

To report an incident to CRC involving prohibited conduct, e.g. discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation or harassment based on a protected characteristic, or information about sexual misconduct, you may make a report via a CRC online report.

In addition, CRC encourages UW employees to report and/or receive support and consultation from CRC regarding available resources and options available to someone who shares an experience involving potentially prohibited conduct. This may include information that Resource Navigators receive via the Request to Connect form below.

If you are unsure about your options and resources, you may contact a Department of Medicine Resource Navigator and/or a CRC case manager to learn more.

Department of Medicine Resource Navigators, to include this site, are for non-emergency incidents only. For emergencies, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call 988. UW Police are available 24/7 (Non-emergency: 206-685-8937, Tips: 206-685-8477) and SafeCampus offers anonymous support for safety and wellbeing concerns (phone: 206-685-7233 or safecampus@uw.edu).

Request to Connect Form: 

To request to connect with a Department of Medicine Resource Coordinator, please describe the nature of your concern in the Request to Connect form below (please do not include the names of specific individuals within the form). 

Note: by submitting the Request to Connect form, you acknowledge you have read and understand the above information about the Resource Navigator program, to include information within the helpful reminders section.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Well-Being & Safety

• CareLink
• Peer-to-Peer
• Know Your Rights
• LiveWell Confidential Advocates
• Queer Center
• Safe Campus
• Transgender Resources
• TheWholeU

Reporting Tools and Complaint Resolution

• Bias reporting tool
• Civil Rights Investigation Office
• Diana Chiang Cooke, ombud for the School of Medicine: email or schedule an appointment
• DOM Intranet-Complaint Resolution Resources
• DOM Academic HR: Jackie Monroe or Dr. Cynthia Ko
• DOM Staff HR: Bryn Vaswig or Chrissie Younie

Accessibility

• Disability Services Office
• Ergonomics 
• Office of ADA Coordinator
• Workplace Accident Reporting

Affinity Groups

• Asian and Pacific Islander American Faculty & Staff Association
• Black Faculty & Staff Association
• Q Faculty, Staff & Allies Association (QFS)
• Latinx Association 
• Native Association

Conflict Resolution

• OMBUD