UCSF School of Medicine 3/26/26 Full Faculty Meeting on Safety

Safety at Work: A Faculty Conversation on Workplace ViolenceShape

Overview

In December 2025, a patient killed social worker Alberto Rangel at Ward 86 at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. This act of violence in a place of healing deeply impacted the UCSF community and raised urgent questions about safety at work.

Many faculty and staff realized this wasn’t a distant issue—it could affect any of us, across clinical and non-clinical settings.

In response, the School of Medicine Faculty Council convened a full faculty meeting focused on workplace violence prevention, safety resources, and practical strategies for staying safe at UCSF and affiliated sites.

This page provides a short, accessible version of that 90-minute session, organized into brief video clips highlighting key insights, expert guidance, and answers to faculty questions.

How to Use This Page

  • Scroll through the meeting summary.
  • Watch short clips relevant to you (1–15 minutes each).
  • Share and discuss with colleagues or teams.

Key Takeaways and Resources

  • Use available safety resources and do not manage threats alone.
    • UCSF has a team of experts to help you.
    • Trust your instincts and report concerns.
    • Don’t wait. Reporting concerns early can help prevent escalation.
  • Safety is a shared responsibility. Speaking up helps protect both you and your colleagues.
  • Emergencies: Call 911 or, if on campus, preferably, UCSF PD at 415-476-6911.
  • Help when it’s Not an Emergency: 
    • Non-Emergency UCSF Police: 415-476-1414
    • UCSF Medical Center Security: 415-885-7890
    • UCSF Safety Escorts: 415-476-1414
    • Not sure? Contact the Threat Management Team. This is a multidisciplinary team of experts that wants to help you. Whether it's evaluating the seriousness of a potential threat, making the right connections with HR or Legal, or getting an outside perspective about your concerns, reach out: [email protected].

SECTION 1: Presentations

Introduction: Why This Conversation Matters

Speaker: Chair of the Faculty Irum Khan, PhD, MBBS

Video Player Icon Video (2 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/7Y2w7H-IQ7KXevCf4RXi3g  

Summary: Overview of the purpose of the meeting and why workplace violence prevention became a priority for the Faculty Council.

Reflections from ZSFG

Speaker: UCSF School of Medicine Zuckerburg San Francisco General Vice Dean Jeff Critchfield, MD

Video Player Icon Video (12 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/FpVeJKlBRKWDJNLlEtlf9A  

Summary: Key lessons learned following the incident, including system changes, challenges, and the balance between safety and UCSF’s mission.

Understanding Workplace Violence: A Forensic Psychiatry Perspective on Safety in the Scientific Workplace

Speaker: UCSF School of Medicine Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs and Professor of Psychiatry Renee Binder, MD

Video Player Icon Video (11 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/jm7_UxsWSH6n96VE8dEOlQ  

Summary: Overview of types of workplace violence, risk factors, warning signs, and how threats can escalate.

UCSF Police Department Safety Resources and Prevention Strategies

Speaker: UCSF Police Crime Analyst & Crime Prevention Specialist Jason Heil

Video Player Icon Video (11 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/NiPntt84TDe9_nPWGeqMQA  

Summary: Available safety services, reporting processes, and practical strategies for prevention and response.

SECTION 2: Questions & Answers

Q1. Safety at Events and Large Gatherings

Question: What measures are in place to ensure safety during events or large gatherings on campus?

Video Player Icon Video (1 min): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/elSTtSkHQEK6yuRnkEzUPg  

Summary: Security for events is assessed based on size and risk, with support from UCSF Police or security teams when requested.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark If you’re planning an event, proactively contact security—don’t assume coverage is automatic.

Q2. Lessons Learned After the Incident

Question: What did leadership learn from faculty and staff after the Ward 86 incident?

Video Player Icon Video: https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/XPO6o08iSAOmjvrd6sPkXQ  

Summary: Leadership heard that many safety concerns had already been raised before the incident, and that stronger systems and responsiveness were needed.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark Speak up early—your concerns may be shared and can drive real change.

Q3. Unhoused Individuals and Campus Safety

Question: How is UCSF addressing safety concerns related to unhoused individuals on campus?

Video Player Icon Video (6 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/IDFJKNaDTGqp4d-mlz9OoA  

Summary: UCSF balances compassion and safety by engaging unhoused individuals respectfully while intervening when behavior becomes disruptive or unsafe.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark If someone’s presence or behavior concerns you, report it—safety teams will assess and respond appropriately.

Q4. Impact Across UCSF and VA Sites

Question: How did this incident affect safety practices and concerns across UCSF and affiliated sites?

Video Player Icon Video (4 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/SV2Pp52DQ7OPhOQFOmNJ7A  

Summary: The incident increased awareness, reporting, and demand for proactive safety measures across campuses, especially among frontline staff.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark Culture change starts with visibility—reporting concerns helps shift systems from reactive to proactive.

Q5. Working at Night

Question: What should faculty and staff know about staying safe when working after hours?

Video Player Icon Video (15 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/wnX_v8q6SDGM4lklWUQiSA  

Summary: Working after hours presents unique safety challenges both inside and outside the hospital, including isolation, reduced staffing, and environmental risks, making awareness, planning, and use of safety resources especially important.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark Don’t normalize feeling unsafe—use escorts, stay aware of your surroundings, and report concerns, even if they seem minor.

Q6. Accessing Safety Resources

Question: How can faculty better access and use available safety resources?

Video Player Icon Video (2 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/WtWOvfibT5uSreSQ-lW1tA  

Summary: While many safety resources exist, increasing awareness and encouraging faculty to actively use them remains an ongoing challenge.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark If you’re unsure whether to reach out, do it—these resources are there to support you, not just emergencies.

Q7. Differences in Security Across Locations

Question: Why do some clinical spaces have more visible security measures than others?

Video Player Icon Video (5 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/xzfa1oKSQ0-PP1BMj6RtMw  

Summary: Security measures vary across sites due to differences in risk, infrastructure, and resources, often requiring trade-offs between access, convenience, and safety.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark Increased security may bring inconvenience, but it reflects real risk assessments and evolving safety needs.

Q8. Building a Culture of Safety + Final Thoughts and Reflections

Question: What can faculty and staff do to help create a safer work environment?

Video Player Icon Video (7 mins): https://ucsf.zoom.us/clips/share/IuOKfw7AQAOb9uygHdJ6kg  

Summary: Creating a safer workplace depends on shared responsibility—speaking up, staying aware, and engaging with available support systems.

Takeaway: 
Check Mark Safety is a team effort—what you notice and report can help protect others.