The Ombuds Team: An Independent and Confidential Resource for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Staff

Independent. Impartial. Informal. Confidential.

The term “ombuds” (pronounced “ahm–buhds”) comes from a Swedish term meaning “a person who has an ear to the people.”

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Ombuds Team has three ombuds (Dina Eisenberg, Michael Stephens, and Ellen Reardon, see bios below) who are available to work with faculty, staff, students, and trainees to surface and resolve work-related issues. The ombuds are an independent, impartial, informal, and confidential resource for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital faculty, staff, students, and trainees. The ombuds team supplements and does not replace St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s formal administrative channels.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Ombuds Team:

About the Ombuds Team at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:

The St. Jude Children’s Hospital staff should contact one of the following ombuds below to discuss options for resolution.

Dina Eisenberg (dina-ombuds@mwi.org and 617-398-7087) has a long-standing passion for helping voices get heard. Whether she’s coaching leaders around EQ or communication, helping employees manage conflict, or identifying organizational systems that require change, it’s all about assisting others to be heard, acknowledged, and supported. A former lawyer, she served as an Organizational Ombuds in a variety of settings, including tech companies, manufacturing, banking as well as colleges and universities. Dina has designed and launched programs for organizations of all shapes and sizes ―from an eight-person law firm to Bank of America, and many more. Dina most recently was the Global Head of Ombuds Services for Twitter, designed their program and served as the inaugural Organizational Ombuds. With almost a quarter century of experience, Dina is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest. Her ombuds work appears in Entrepreneur and Inc magazines. Schedule a time to talk with Dina by sending an email to dina-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 617-398-7087.

Michael Stephens (michael-ombuds@mwi.org and 413-341-6977) is an experienced ombuds, mediator and coach with the goal of helping foster good working relations and a more positive culture in the organizations he serves. Michael is a member of the International Ombuds Association, and has significant experience as an ombuds in both corporate and academic settings. Michael has a certification in Mediation from the Mediation Training Institute. Michael worked for many years as an ombuds, as well as the manager of other ombuds, at Merck, a multi-national pharmaceutical company. Before that, he had many years of experience in Human Resources roles at Merck and several other companies. After retiring from Merck, he has served as ombuds for Amherst College and Smith College. Michael is also an experienced facilitator and workshop leader, specializing in communications skills, conflict resolution and change management. He has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Colorado and a Masters in Business Administration from New York University. Schedule a time to talk with Michael by sending an email to michael-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 413-341-6977.

Ellen Reardon (ellen-ombuds@mwi.org and 858-769-9802) is an Outsourced Organizational Ombuds with MWI. She has specialized in hospital settings and the corporate world since 2009. With a Master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing from Case Western Reserve University, she brings a unique perspective and deep understanding to her work. Ellen’s experience in healthcare organizations, including her tenure at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, has provided her with valuable insights into the complexities of these environments and honed her ability to navigate challenging situations effectively. Ellen’s commitment to her field is evident through her active membership in the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and her certification as a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP). Her proven track record, combined with her empathetic approach, positions her as a valuable asset to organizations seeking to enhance communication, resolve conflicts, promote inclusivity, and foster resilience in the workplace. In addition to her role as an Organizational Ombuds, Ellen excels in executive leadership coaching, supporting corporate leaders and faculty in reaching their full potential. Ellen’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is a hallmark of her work. She assists organizations in developing strategies and practices that foster a culture of respect, ensuring that every member feels valued and heard. Ellen introduced and developed the role of Ombuds at the Salk Research Institute, and provided Ombuds services to a diverse range of individuals, including faculty, postdocs, graduate students, staff, and administrators. Schedule a time to talk with Ellen by sending an email to ellen-ombuds@mwi.org or by calling 858-769-9802.

Contact

Email: Email any member of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Ombuds Team at the email addresses provided here – dina-ombuds@mwi.org, michael-ombuds@mwi.org or ellen-ombuds@mwi.org
Confidential web form: If you have a concern at work and would like to raise it in confidence, please feel free to fill out the web form below.
Phone: Contact Dina at 617-398-7087, Michael at 413-341-6977 or Ellen at 858-769-9802 (direct and confidential phone and voicemail).

Any Ombuds Team member will get back to you within one business day.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Ombuds Team was established under a charter approved by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Chairman. A copy of that charter is available here. The charter incorporates by reference the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and requires that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Ombuds Team adhere to the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The charter, as well as the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, contain important information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Ombuds Team and the manner in which it functions.

Due to the independent, impartial, informal, and confidential nature of the ombuds function, communication with an ombuds team member does not constitute formal notice to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.