Professionalism at Jefferson Medical College

The Faculty Professional Code Committee

The Faculty PCC is a body of faculty peers that provides assistance to the JMC Community in matters relating to faculty violations of the JMC Honor Code. Problems are to be handled with goals similar to those used for handling the impaired physician, with members aiming for assistance to rather than judgment of the faculty member. Thus, the Faculty PCC is not a disciplinary body and does not function as such.

A person who becomes aware of any unprofessional behavior by a faculty member must act in one of the following ways:

• Approach the identified faculty member concerning a possible breach of the Honor Code.
• If the matter is still unresolved, one of the actions below must be pursued:
• Discuss the matter with a member of the Faculty PCC.
• Refer the matter to the chairman of the Faculty PCC for action.
• Other action sanctioned by the College, e.g., direct contact with the chairman of the department, or the Dean or his designee.

Since the Faculty PCC is not a disciplinary body, it cannot make a determination of guilt. It is a committee charged with exploring the problem with the faculty member(s) involved. The following options are available to it:

• No further action.
• Remedial action through assistance to the faculty person and based upon his/her concurrence.
• Deferred action for future contingencies.
• Referral to the Dean or his designee.
• Referral to the Faculty Affairs Committee.
• Other action as appropriate.

Who Serves on the Faculty PCC?

The Faculty PCC consists of 10 faculty members, each serving a term of 2 years. They are elected by the Professorial Faculty, and may serve up to 3 consecutive terms.

A chairman, vice chairman, and recording secretary are elected from among the members at the first meeting of the academic year. Members of the Faculty Affairs Committee and members of the Faculty Grievance Subcommittee may not serve concurrently on the Faculty PCC.

Proceedings of Faculty PCC

Meetings are called as needed by the chairman of the Faculty PCC, and are held promptly (within one week whenever possible) after a complaint is received by the committee. Individual students, Student PCC, or faculty or administrators may refer matters to the Faculty PCC.

A quorum of 50 percent of committee membership is required to conduct business. For a matter involving either a basic science or a clinical science faculty member at least three members of the appropriate science faculty should be members of the Faculty PCC, respectively. If the problem involves a volunteer or full-time clinical science member, appropriate representation should be present.