About Us
Ombuds Office
Ombuds: ŏm'bŭdz' noun
A neutral, confidential office where trained professionals create a safe space for a fair resolution of issues and concerns.
What We Do
The Ombuds Office is a confidential resource for:
- expressing workplace concerns or questions
- improving work relationships
- having questions answered
- getting a neutral perspective on your concerns
- discussing concerns about incivility, problems of conduct, offensive or disruptive behavior, authorship
- finding guidance and helpful suggestions
- gaining help in achieving win-win solutions
- increasing collaboration within work groups
- facilitation or mediation of team concerns
Make an Appointment
Call: 713-792-4896 / toll-free 866-610-7841
E-mail: ombuds@mdanderson.org
Ombuds Office
Pickens Academic Tower (FCT10.5081)
1400 Pressler Drive
Houston, TX 77030
What to Expect
When you visit us, we will discuss:
- the issue in a confidential setting
- applicable policies, procedures, rules, regulations and other resources
- goals and alternatives
- a strategy plan for dealing with the issue
- referrals to other offices or institutional services
- the possibility of informal mediation or coaching
Learn More About Us
- Annual Report Summary (pdf)
- Office Brochure (pdf)
- Charter of the Ombuds Office (pdf)
What Ombuds Office Staff Will & Will Not Do
Confidentiality
The Ombuds Office is made available to all employees with the express understanding that it provides them with a confidential, neutral and alternate channel of communication. Because communications with the Ombuds Office are considered confidential and privileged, it is inappropriate for employees at any level of M. D. Anderson to call an ombuds as a witness in formal or administrative proceedings to reveal confidential communications. Employees who use the office will be considered to have agreed to abide by these features of the office.
Learn more about our Standards of Practice.
Web Resources
NOTE: Pages will open in a new browser window. M. D. Anderson does not endorse external sites.
M. D. Anderson Resources
NOTE: Pages will only open for employees with intranet access.
NOTE: Pages are available to all.
Self-Help Tools
Worksheets
- The Whole Message Model (pdf) - A communication tool to prepare for meetings
Recommended Reading
- Materials Available at our Research Medical Library (pdf) - A reading materials list
Communication Guides
- Learning Conversations: Tips for Listening (pdf) and Tips for Speaking (pdf)
- Performance Review Tips - 5 steps to survive your performance review (pdf)
Mediation
- Learn about mediation, how it works and how to prepare (pdf)
Civility and Respect Spectrum
- The Civility and Respect Spectrum (pdf) was developed over the course of several years, as a result of working with people who have experienced racial and ethnic harassment or have sought assistance for incivility and harassment.
Comparison of Ombuds Office to other Institutional Services
- View a comparison of institutional services (pdf)
Dispute Resolution Pathways
- View a chart showing dispute resolution pathways (pdf)