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Ombuds

MED Ombuds

Texas A&M College of Medicine is committed to cultivating a safe and effective learning environment on all of our campuses, at all of our sites and for all of our constituents (faculty, staff, and students). To aid in cultivating the learning environment for faculty and staff, the College of Medicine, with input from the University Faculty Ombuds Officer created the role of the College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Ombuds in fall 2018 within the Office of Medical Education.

The role of the College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Ombuds is to serve as a confidential, impartial and neutral sounding board regarding any faculty or staff concerns within our learning environment. The College of Medicine faculty and staff ombuds is aware of college and Texas A&M policies and procedures and can provide information on appropriate pathways to resolve issues related to the learning environment. The College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Ombuds does not provide advice (legal or otherwise), replace a university official, determine responsibility, assign sanctions or get involved in official College of Medicine grievances.

The duties of the College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Ombuds include, but are not limited to:

  • Serving as a confidential outlet of a College of Medicine faculty or staff person needs to verbally process an issue
  • Being available within a timely manner to meet one-on-one with the College of Medicine faculty and staff
  • Interfacing with the Texas A&M Faculty Ombuds where appropriate/indicated
  • Participating in the monthly Learning Environment Enrichment Committee meetings
  • Working collaboratively with the College of Medicine Faculty Ombuds to address learning environment concerns
  • Being familiar with the College of Medicine and Texas A&M policies (such as Title IX) and procedures

The College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Ombuds are guided and informed by the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association.

Erin Herbrich, Staff Ombuds

Erin M. Herbrich, Staff Ombuds
Prior to beginning her career with the College of Medicine, Erin obtained a Bachelor of Science in bioenvironmental sciences from Texas A&M University, followed by a Masters of Public Health in health policy and management from the Texas A&M School of Public Health. She began her career with the College of Medicine in 2011 as a medical education program coordinator and now serves as the Director for Academic Affairs.
Erin's role as the Staff Ombuds is to serve as a confidential, impartial, and neutral sounding board regarding any staff concerns within our learning environment.
If you have any questions, please reach out.

Erin Herbrich

Erin M. Herbrich, MPH
med-ombuds@tamu.edu

Vincent Vanburen

Vincent Van Buren, Faculty Ombuds
med-ombuds@tamu.edu

Dr. Vincent Van Buren, PhD Faculty Ombuds

Dr Van Buren's career with the Texas A& M University began in 2006.
He obtained his B.S., 1994, in Biology, from Cedar Crest College, in Allentown, PA.  He went on to obtain his Ph.D., in 2002, in Molecular Biology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.  He became a  Postdoctoral Fellow in July 2006 in Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Fellowship, Bioinformatics, Minoru Ko, MD, PhD, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD

He has held the following positions at Texas A&M University:
Assistant Professor, 2006-2015, Medical Physiology (Systems Biology and Translational Medicine prior to 2013), Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX

Instructional Assistant Professor of Medical Education, 2016-2023, Medical Education (appointed to Primary Care prior to 2019), Texas A& M College of Medicine, Round Rock TX.

Instructional Associate Professor of Medical Education, 2023-present, Medical Education. Texas A& M College of Medicine, Round Rock TX.

Dr. Vincent Van Buren is passionate about ensuring that every faculty member feels heard, valued, and supported.  He is committed to providing an independent and neutral resource for faculty to voice their concerns, seek guidance, and find resolutions to issues impacting their professional lives.

He looks forward to representing the Faculty of the College of Medicine as their Faculty Ombuds.