Briefing Materials Shed Light on Health Canada's Ombuds Program

The federal agency that oversees Canada's national health policy has released the briefing package for its new Deputy Minister. (Greg Orencsak who was appointed in August 2024.) The binder presents an overview of Health Canada organization and work, including its Center for Ombuds and Resolution. COR's Ombuds and Executive Director is Sylvie Richard, and her Associate Ombuds are Sarah Curry and Thierry Casademont. The summary explains COR's key functions, legislative and regulatory context, and budget. 

Working Papers from 2024 IOA Practice Survey Illustrate Ombuds Work

The research team behind the International Ombuds Association's biennial practice survey (Jennifer Schneider, Timothy Hedeen, Mary Rowe, and Hector Escalante Meza) has written a series of papers that provide further insights on the work of Organizational Ombuds. Four working look at some self-reported IOA qualitative data from practitioners. Three additional papers by Mary Rowe individually are about visitor stories. All are open for comment:

Virginia Tech Adds First Associate Ombuds

Geoffrey Adelsberg will join the University Ombuds Office at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in January 2025. He will work with Director & University Ombuds, Reese Ramos, as the first Associate Ombuds and provide services to all campus stakeholders.

Article Examines Work of Ombuds at University of Bologna

A paper published in the most recent edition of the Utrech Law Review examines dispute resolution processes at Università di Bologna, the world's oldest public research university. The article is "Innovative Approaches to Dispute Resolution in Academia: Insights from the University of Bologna" considers the work of the university's Student Ombudsman (currently Giuseppe Colonna, former magistrate, and President of the Court of Appeal of Bologna). The authors, Carolina Mancuso and Angela M. Felicetti, are both on the faculty at the university. 

Job Posting: Department of the Interior

The Department of the Interior's Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution is hiring an Organizational Ombuds in Arlington, Virginia. Unlike the posting last week, this is a term position for up to four years, with potential annual renewals. The position will join a team of Organizational Ombuds, including Sigal Shoham and Mary Chavez Rudolph. The position is eligible for telework and travel of up to 25% may be required. The posting also may be used to fill other similar positions.

National Institutes of Health Adds an Associate Ombuds

Michelle Arbid has been hired as an Associate Ombuds in the NIH Ombuds Office. She becomes a seventh person in the office lead by Victor Voloshin, which also includes Fernando Caetano, Elisa Enriquez, CO-OP, Toni Hawkins, and Tyler Smith.

IOA Posts Agenda for 2025 Annual Conference in Florida

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 20th annual conference. The event is set for April 7-9, 2025 in Miami, Florida at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The conference is preceded by three days of training session. Registration is now open and IO has published the tentative conference agenda:

San Diego State University's Ombuds Retires

Darrell Hess, who has served as the Student Ombudsperson at California State University in San Diego since early 2019, retired this fall. Karla Ramirez, who has been the Assistant Student Ombuds since 2021, is containing to provide services to the campus. (SDSU Ombuds.)

Job Posting: United Nations, New York

The Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS) is seeking a Senior Mediator. The full-time position will lead the planning, organization, implementation, and evaluation of the mediation program in consultation and collaboration with the UNOMS Regional Ombuds. The position also provides training for UNOMS staff and helps with identifying trends and patterns in the workplace branches.

Meet the First Ombuds for Sutter Health

Earlier this year, the not-for-profit health system in Northern California contracted with MWI for Ombuds services. Ralph Johnson, Maureen Brodie, CO-OP, and Ellen Reardon, CO-OP, provide services to physicians and advanced practice clinicians at all eight of Sutter's medical groups. As with all of its contracts, MWI's Ombuds practice to IOA standards. (Sutter Health Ombuds.) 

GAUS Appoints First Group of Ombuds

The German collaborative research center that studies "Geometry and Arithmetic of Uniformized Structures" has named three inaugural Ombudspersons: Annette Werner; Marius Leonhardt; and Timo Richarz. Together, they assist over 120 prinicipal investigators, researchers, and fellows with concerns including misconduct, harassment, and interpersonal conflict. 

Cal Poly Pomona Announces Ombuds

After a year-long national search, California State Polytechnic University in Pomona has selected Mark Patterson as its Director of Conflict Resolution Services and University Ombuds, beginning January 6, 2025. He will report to the University President and will lead the development of a new program for students, faculty, and staff as part of the newly created organizational unit of People, Culture, and Institutional Affairs. The position reports directly to the university's president. 

Job Posting: Department of the Interior

The Department of the Interior's Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution is hiring a Lead Conflict Management Specialist & Organizational Ombuds in Arlington, Virginia. The position will join a team of Organizational Ombuds, including Sigal Shoham and Mary Chavez Rudolph. (Tahirih Varner left CADR in July after five years as an Ombuds to take a position with the European Southern Observatory.) The position is eligible for telework and travel of up to 25% may be required. The posting also may be used to fill other similar positions.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Selects Next Ombuds

Colette Carmouche has been appointed the next permanent University Ombuds for the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. She takes over a program that has been managed by MWI since July, following the departure of Interim University Ombuds, Lea Occhialini, at the end of 2023. Carmouche begins in February 2025 and will report to the chancellor's office. The UMass Ombuds Office serves over 38,000 faculty, staff, and students, and is expected to practice to IOA standards. Carmouche is expected to fill a vacant Associate Ombuds position sometime next year.

Podcast: Ropes & Gray Explores Role of Ombuds at Sanofi

The latest podcast from the large American multinational law firm's, "Culture & Compliance Chronicles," features an interview with Daniel Mayhew, Sanofi's Global Head of Organisational Justice and Smart Assurance. Mayhew talks about his career from law enforcement to the corporate world, emphasizing the importance of empathy in investigations and the role of organizational justice in fostering a fair and transparent workplace, including his work supporting the creation of an Ombuds program at Sanofi.