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.
HSA 2024-25 Leadership
- Co-President: Jennifer Marsidi, DO - Medicine-Pediatrics PG4
- Co-President: Brinda Ryali, MD - Medicine-Pediatrics PG4
- Vice President: Philip Papayanis, MD - Internal Medicine PG2
- Social Chairs
- Cinar Oztosun, MD - Psychiatry PG3
- Aneri Shah, MD - Pediatrics PG2
- Wellness Chairs
- Sierra Anderson, MD - Internal Medicine PG2
- Lena Mishack, MD - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation PG2
- Anthony Reyes, MD - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation PG2
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 & 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 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.
DEI Committee Leadership
- Co-Chair: Marcos Henriquez, MD – PG3, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Co-Chair: Ida Perez-Alvarez, MD – PG4, Integrated Plastic Surgery
- STRIVE: Jasmine Beasley, DO, PG2 in Emergency Medicine and Jayla Bostic, DO, PG3 in Medicine-Pediatrics
- Medical Student Liaison: Skiey Hardin, MD - PG4, Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Social Programming: Emanuel Irizarry Berrios, MD - PG2, Internal Medicine
- Faculty Liaisons: Melissa Rangel, MD, PG5 in General Surgery and Charis Crofton, MD, PG2 in Emergency Medicine
Contact: RushDEICommittee@gmail.com
Past president Bianca Williams, MD, MBA talks about creating and maintaining a more diverse, equitable and inclusive healing and working environment at RUSH.
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.
PSQI Leadership
- Umit Yasar Ayaz, MD - Body Imaging PG6
- Daniel Wolfson, MD - Neurosurgery PG5
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.
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
- Hanna Mielke-Maday, MD - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation PG4
- Kate Pommert, MD - Internal Medicine PG3
Contact: RES-CORE@rush.edu
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.