Article V Summer Honor Council
M. D./MBA Program
4. An academic unit composed of a combination of clinics may be taken for elective cr edit. This must include at least nine clinic meetings per
week. Signatures for each clinic must be obtained through an add card at least one month prior to the beginning of the chosen unit.
The Department of Medicine offers a four-week unit for senior med- ical students to work in subspecialty clinics in the Department. Students work one-on-one with faculty members or fellows in at least nine clinic meetings per week. Students may choose from a variety of clinics includ- ing Allergy/Pulmonary, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Disease, Nephr ology, Pharmacology, and Rheumatology. Students may spend all of their time in one or two clinics or elect to work in a variety of clinics. Students arrange their sched- ule with attendings in various clinics, then obtain a signatur e for the course from Dr. Spickard III through an add card at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the chosen unit.
5. Important: Most selectives and electives are available in all units. Excep- tions are noted with individual listings. Most of these have strict enr oll- ment limitations that are indicated under each course listing.
NOTE: REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. STUDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED.
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Fourth Year Clerkships with No Prerequisites 2004/2005
Department Course Number Course Title
Medicine 504-5617 Clerkship in Alcohol & Drug Dependence 504-5622 Clerkship in Hepatology
504-5645 Nutrition Support 504-5710 Arthritis Center 504-5735 Palliative Care
504-5760 Clerkship in Rheumatology 504-5930 Health Promotion Clerkship 504-5940 Rheumatology Clinical Research
**(Requires Consent of Instructor) 504-5950 Seminar in Clinical Electrocardiography
and Electrophysiology
*(Requires Consent of Instructor) 504-5980 Elective Rotation in Clinical Ethics
Neurology 506-5616 Neurology Research
*(Requires Consent of Instructor) Pathology 510-5610 Clerkship in Autopsy Pathology
510-5620 Surgical Pathology 510-5630 Clinical Pathology
510-5640 Clerkship in Laboratory Medicine 510-5650 Clinical Microbiology
510-5670 Clerkship in Neuropathology
*(Requires Arrangement with Sponsor) Pediatrics 511-5650 Clerkship in Child Behavior & Development
511-5800 Genetics Clerkship
*(Requires Interview with Sponsor) 511-5920 Pediatric Rehabilitation
Preventive Medicine 514-5720 Clerkship in Epidemiology at the CDC
Surgery 517-5810 Laboratory Research in Surgery
Advanced Training
In addition to its primary responsibility of educating medical students, the School of Medicine has active pr ograms for graduate students in the preclinical sciences, for postdoctoral interns and r esidents, and for post- doctoral research trainees.
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Residency Training
Students preparing for the practice of medicine usually spend thr ee or more years in house staff training. Such experiences at Vanderbilt are par- ticularly varied and well supervised. Applicants for positions ar e care- fully chosen because of the competition for positions. As a r esult, the house staff makes up a competent and stimulating gr oup, with consider- able responsibility in medical student teaching.
The faculty of the School of Medicine has pr ofessional responsibilities at Vanderbilt, Veterans, Saint Thomas, and Baptist hospitals. Patients in these hospitals are cared for by members of the medical staf f, assisted by the intern and resident staff.
Vanderbilt University Hospital is a referral center and consequently has a patient population with complex medical and sur gical problems. The Veterans Administration Hospital, adjacent to the V anderbilt Medical Center, serves veterans and their families from throughout the mid-south and is an important component of the teaching program. All physicians at the VA Hospital are full-time faculty members of the School of Medicine.
Post-Residency Fellowships
Postdoctoral training programs have as their goal the training of physi- cians for practice and certification in a medical subspecialty . Fellows ad- mitted to these pr ograms must have completed an appr oved residency program. The fellow is expected to participate in departmental activities related to teaching, clinical services, and research.
Continuing Medical Education
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and V anderbilt University Medical Center recognize a major commitment to the continuing educa - tion of physicians and others in the health pr ofessions. The School of Medicine views medical education as a continuum initiated in the under- graduate phase, pr ogressing through graduate medical education, and maturing in ongoing continuing medical education. The pr ofessional life of the physician and all health pr ofessionals should include activities en- compassing this view, with the goal of improving health care for patients.
Under the auspices of the Division of Continuing Medical Education, the School of Medicine of fers a br oad spectrum of courses thr oughout the year to meet the needs of physicians in practice and other health pr ofes- sionals. Inquiries should be dir ected to the Division of Continuing Med - ical Education.
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Academic Policies
V ANDERBILT students ar e bound by the Honor System inaugu- rated in 1875 when the University opened its doors. Fundamental responsibility for the preservation of the system inevitably falls on the individual student. It is assumed that students will demand of them- selves and their fellow students complete r espect for the Honor System.
All work submitted as a part of course requirements is presumed to be the product of the student submitting it unless cr edit is given by the student in the manner prescribed by the course instructor. Cheating, plagiarizing, or otherwise falsifying r esults of study ar e specifically pr ohibited under the Honor System. The system applies not only to examinations but also to written work and computer pr ograms submitted to instr uctors. The student, by registration, acknowledges the authority of the Student Honor Council of the School of Medicine.
The University’s Graduate Student Conduct Council has original juris- diction in all cases of non-academic misconduct involving graduate and professional students.
The Student Handbook, available at the time of registration, contains the constitution and bylaws of the Honor System and the Honor Code, as well as an explanation of the functions of the Honor System.
Requirements for M.D. Degree
Candidates for the Doctor of Medicine degr ee must be matur e and of good moral character. They must have spent at least four years of study or its equivalent as matriculated medical students at an accr edited medical school. Students accepted with advanced standing must complete at least the last two years in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. All stu- dents must have satisfactorily completed the medical curriculum, have passed all prescribed examinations, and have no outstanding unpaid bal- ances with the University other than sanctioned educational loans. Stu- dents fulfilling these r equirements will be r ecommended for the degr ee Doctor of Medicine.
Advisers
The Vanderbilt Medical School has one of the lowest attrition rates in the country. The faculty and administration take an active inter est in as- suring that each student achieves to maximum capability . Advisers, both student and faculty, and staff members of the office of the Dean are avail- able to assist students toward successful development of their plans.
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Licensure
It is the policy of V anderbilt University School of Medicine that all medical students will take Step 1 and Step 2 (both Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination prior to graduation, although passage of these examinations will not be a degree requirement.
Standards of Behavior for Interactions with Medical Students1
Statement of Standards
In practice, physicians ar e held to high standar ds of pr ofessionalism and patient care. The medical learning envir onment is expected to facili- tate students’ acquisition of the professional and collegial attitudes neces- sary for effective, caring, and compassionate health care. The development and nurturing of these attitudes requires mutual respect between teachers (including faculty, residents, and staf f) and students, and between each student and his or her fellow students.
2Mutual respect between student and teacher, and between fellow students, may be expr essed in many ways but all interactions shall include honesty, fairness, and evenhanded treatment. Behavior which is inimical to the development of mutual r e- spect shall be prohibited. Such behavior may include but is not limited to:
(1) Harassment of a sexual nature;
(2) Discrimination or harassment based on race, sex, religion, color, na- tional or ethnic origin, age, disability , military service, or being or being perceived as homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual.
(3) Grading, promoting, or otherwise evaluating any student on any basis other than that student’s performance or merit.
Comments
The following delineates more clearly the behavior enumerated above which may be inimical to the development of mutual respect between stu- dents and teacher and between fellow students. For purposes of these Comments, the term “person” shall r efer to a student in interactions be - tween fellow students or, in student-teacher interactions, to the student or teacher, as appropriate.
(1) Harassment of a sexual nature may include:
a. Denying the opportunity for training or r ewards because of a stu- dent’s gender;
b. Requesting sexual favors in exchange for grades or other awards;
1 All Vanderbilt University policies concerning medical student interactions with faculty and staff as set forth in the Vanderbilt University Student Handbook, the Faculty Manual, and the Staff Manual remain in full force and effect.
2 By their express terms, these Standards apply only to interactions which involve one or more medical students;
however, it is hoped that these Standards will serve as a guide to all members of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center community. The reporting procedure outlined herein shall apply only to allegations of the violation of these Standards in in- teractions involving medical student(s).
c. Making unwanted sexual advances;
d. Unreasonable and inappr opriate sexual or sexist conduct dir ected towards any person;
e. Displaying in an unr easonable and inappr opriate manner sexually suggestive or pornographic materials; or
f. Grading or evaluating a student based upon gender rather than per- formance and merit.
(2) Discrimination and harassment may include:
a. Denying the opportunity for training or r ewards because of a stu- dent’s age, race, religious affiliation, or any other attribute of the student other than merit or performance;
b. Unreasonable and inappropriate conduct directed towards any per- son which is intended to insult or stigmatize that person;
c. Exclusion of a student from any usual and reasonable expected edu- cational opportunity for any reason other than as a reasonable response to that student’s performance or merit;
d. Requiring a student to perform personal services such as shopping or babysitting;
e. Showing favoritism among students based upon any attribute of the student(s) other than performance or merit and ther eby reducing educa- tional opportunities available to the nonfavored student(s); or
f. Grading or evaluating a student based upon any attribute of a stu - dent other than that student’s performance and merit;
g. Any physical mistreatment, such as hitting, slapping or kicking, or threatening such physical mistreatment;
h. Requiring a student to perform menial tasks with the intent to hu- miliate the student.
Any perceived violation of these Standar ds of Behavior (“Standar ds”) may be reported in accordance with the following pr ocedure. Violations of these Standards may subject the of fender to disciplinary action. These Standards may be amended at any time by the Executive Faculty . The Standards Committee shall be composed of such members as the Dean shall appoint from time to time.
Reporting Procedure
Prior to filing a formal report as outlined below, the individual consid- ering making a report should first, if at all possible, attempt to resolve the matter directly with the alleged of fender. In addition, the r eporting indi- vidual may consult informally with any member of the Standar ds Com- mittee for information and assistance. Any such informal consultation will be confidential if so r equested. The only written r ecord of any such confidential consultation shall consist of a confidential memorandum r e- tained in the files of the Chair of the Standards Committee.
School of Medicine / Academic Policies 91
To make a formal r eport of an alleged violation of these Standar ds, a written description of the alleged violation, signed by the individual mak- ing the report, shall be delivered to any individual on the Standards Com- mittee. The Standar ds Committee shall conduct a pr eliminary investigation, giving the r eporting individual, the alleged of fender and any other persons as the Standar ds Committee shall determine a fair op - portunity to expr ess their views on the matter . Further, the Standar ds Committee shall make, in accor dance with commonly held standar ds of conduct, any necessary pr eliminary determination of what does or does not constitute reasonable or appropriate conduct and behavior. Thereafter, the Standards Committee shall issue a written statement of their pr elimi- nary findings to the individual making the r eport, to the alleged offender, and to the Dean. The Dean shall then take such further action on the mat- ter as the Dean shall deem appropriate, consistent with Vanderbilt Univer- sity policy on disciplinary actions as set forth in the Vanderbilt University Faculty Manual, Student Handbook, or Staff Manual, as applicable.
Alternatively, a student alleging sexual harassment or unlawful dis - crimination may make a complaint to Vanderbilt’s Opportunity Develop- ment Center in accor dance with the pr ocedure outlined in the Student Handbook. If the complaint to the Opportunity Development Center does not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the individual making the complaint, a formal grievance may be filed with the Office of the Chancel- lor in accordance with the procedure in the Student Handbook.
Grading and Promotions
Successful completion of the courses of the medical curriculum and scholastic standing are determined by the character of the student’s daily work; the results of examinations, which may be written, oral, or practi- cal; and observation of the student in action. The medical school curricu - lum builds progressively on the course work of each pr evious academic year. The courses of each subsequent year r equire increasing levels of co- ordination and integration of the material pr eviously presented. Thor- ough knowledge and understanding of each subject and an appr opriate level of skills ar e therefore required for satisfactory pr ogress to be main- tained in the medical curriculum.
Grades
The summative evaluation of academic performance for each course is reported on the following basis:
Honors (H): superior or outstanding work in all aspects (second, third, and fourth years).
High Pass (HP): completely satisfactory performance in all aspects, with some elements of superior work (third and fourth years).
Pass (P): completely satisfactory performance in all aspects (all years).
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Marginal Pass (P*): marginal performance, to be reviewed by the Pro- motion Committee and course directors. Not to be recorded on the official transcript. After discussion and/or remedy, the grade will be changed to either Pass or Fail.
Fail (F): unsatisfactory performance (all years).
Electives in the first and second year ar e graded on a Pass or Fail basis.
Exemplary or inadequate performance in these electives will be docu- mented by supporting narrative evaluations. Electives and selectives in the third and fourth years are graded on the same basis as required courses.
Student Grievances Concerning Grades
Students should seek redress of a problem with a grade as soon as pos- sible after receiving the grade and in no case later than six months after the event. Students with a problem should confer directly with the course director. Every ef fort should be made to r esolve the pr oblem fairly and promptly at this level.
If the student cannot r esolve the pr oblem through discussion with the course director, he or she should bring the pr oblem, within two weeks of talking with the course director, to the attention of the Associate Dean for Medical Students, who will seek to resolve the problem. If resolution is still not achieved, the Associate Dean will make a r ecommendation to the Dean, which will be accompanied by commentary on the recommendation by the relevant department chair. The Dean will make the final decision.
Promotion
Promotion Committees of the faculty, in consultation with r epresenta- tives of the departments r esponsible for instr uction, are charged with making recommendations to the Dean, and the Executive Faculty regard- ing progress and promotions of students in each class. The Executive Fac- ulty of the School of Medicine has final r esponsibility for the determination of medical student progress in the school. Decisions on the progress of students during the first two years are ordinarily made at the end of each academic year. In view of the integrated nature of the curricu- lum in the final two years, no specific decisions on pr omotion from the third to the fourth year ar e made. Decisions on the pr ogress of students during these final two years, however, may be made at any time as acade- mic performance may dictate. Ordinarily, decisions for graduation will be made shortly before Commencement in the final year.
The committees r ecommend for pr omotion those students who have demonstrated appropriate personal behavior and the knowledge, under - standing, and skills consistent with faculty expectations at their particular stage of professional development.
School of Medicine / Academic Policies 93
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The school’s academic program is predicated upon providing students an academic envir onment conducive to successful achievement. Occa - sionally, however, the outcome is unsuccessful. The Pr omotion Commit- tees will review the performance of students with deficiencies and make recommendations concerning their progress.
Students who have marginal grades in two or more courses in a single academic year will under go special review by their Pr omotion Commit- tee. In light of the student’s complete academic r ecord, the committee may recommend promotion, promotion on probation, repetition of all or part of the academic year , or withdrawal fr om school. Or dinarily, a stu- dent with marginal performances in required preclinical courses account- ing for more than half of the scheduled r equired course hours in a single academic year can expect to repeat an academic year or to withdraw from school. Students who deliver marginal performances in more than two re- quired clerkships can expect to have their pr ogress delayed in or der to complete remedial work or to withdraw from school.
Students who fail in a course, whether r equired or elective, will be r e- quired to remedy the failure before being permitted to enter the courses of the next academic year. Credit may be given on the basis of r e-examina- tion or satisfactory repetition of the course work, but failures will remain on the record and may be counted as cause for dismissal if additional fail- ure occurs. Students who fail in two courses or fail a r e-examination or course repetition may be required to withdraw from the school.
Promotion Committees will or dinarily recommend that students be placed on academic probation if their course work includes any failures or is generally of marginal character. Students placed on academic probation who do not perform in a satisfactory manner during the subsequent acad- emic year will be dismissed fr om school unless ther e are mitigating cir- cumstances appr oved by the Dean. Students on pr obation may be withdrawn from school if their academic performance continues at a mar- ginal level, even though ther e may be no recorded failures. Promotion Committees may recommend removal of probationary status when a stu- dent has demonstrated a continuing record of satisfactory performance in the succeeding units of study.
Students who are shown by work or conduct to be unfit for the practice of medicine may be required to withdraw from the school at any time.
Extracurricular Work
The School of Medicine does not r egulate the outside work of its stu- dents, although it does take the firm position of discouraging outside work. No outside commitments may be assumed by medical students that may compr omise their r esponsibilities at the medical school. If the outside obligation is considered prejudicial, the student may be r equired to discontinue it.
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