
ZSOM Planning With Purpose
In the upcoming months, the Zucker School of Medicine will be actively engaged in crafting a new strategic plan, placing emphasis on refreshing its mission statement and reinforcing core values. In collaboration with students, staff, faculty, and alumni, our strategic agenda will prioritize key objectives. Through the dedicated efforts of various committees, we will define measurable goals and strategic steps to drive sustained growth and success for the School of Medicine over the next decade.
AAMC StandPoint™ Employee Engagement Survey:
Building a Better Workplace Together

As an initial step in our strategic planning process, we conducted the AAMC StandPoint™ Engagement Survey to gain valuable insights into the work-life experience of our faculty and staff. This survey, specifically designed for academic medicine, measures 16 key dimensions of engagement and provides actionable data to help shape a more supportive and thriving work environment.
Who Participated?
The web-based survey was sent to all full-time and part-time core faculty and staff, including:
- Faculty: Science Education faculty, course and clerkship directors, core AI directors, MD deans
- Staff: Administrators, L153 staff, non-MD deans
To ensure confidentiality, only aggregated data was shared, and any identifying information from open-ended responses was removed.
What’s Next?
Survey results serve as part of the baseline for Phase I: Where are we now? The findings were reviewed at an AAMC StandPoint™ - led Town Hall, and working groups have been formed to address key areas of opportunity. This is just the beginning of our collective effort to foster engagement, transparency, and continuous improvement at ZSOM.
AAMC StandPoint™ Working Groups
The Zucker School of Medicine has established faculty and staff working groups to address key issues identified in the AAMC StandPoint™ survey. Each group will develop actionable recommendations to promote continuous improvement at the school. Working groups will foster diverse perspectives, promote transparency, and support inclusive, informed decision-making.
- Staff Retention, Career Advancement, and Professional Development
Co-chaired by Lisa Ellenbogen and Justin Chupungco, efforts will focus on developing strategies to strengthen staff retention, career development, and professional growth. - Decision-Making and Shared Governance
Co-chaired by Dr. Robert Hill and Dr. Alexandra Cruz, initiatives include enhancing transparency, inclusion, and collaboration in institutional decision-making and governance. - Transparency of Finances Working Group
Co-chaired by Dr. Robert Lucito and Jennifer Spinks, actions consist of identifying practices to improve communication, clarity, & trust in budgeting, resource allocation, & financial priorities.
Stay tuned for updates on next steps and ways to get involved!
