Communication
Email is the official method of communication between the USF Health faculty, staff and all students. Therefore, it is your responsibility to check your USF Health e-mail account correspondence daily. You will be held accountable for a timely response to all e-mail requests. As a rule, responses are expected from students within 24 hours. If you are unable to check your email (e.g., due to travel), you should activate an out-of-office message on your email which indicates when you will be able to answer your messages.
Performance Standards
The faculty and director(s) of each course/clerkship (for simplicity the term course will be inclusive of courses and clerkships) define the criteria for acceptable academic performance in that course. Evaluation of academic performance may include (but is not necessarily limited to) measuring the student’s knowledge, measuring how the student applies such knowledge to specific problems, evaluating the judgment that a student employs in solving problems, as well as assessing the quality of the student’s psychomotor skills, professional conduct, ethical behavior and interpersonal communication with medical colleagues, patients and patients' families. Students are evaluated based on course objectives, which are in alignment with the MCOM program objectives. Student performance in all courses will be summarized by the assignment of grades of H, PC, P, F, R, I, S, or U (see also Grade Determination). Students should refer to the course syllabus for details of grading. All courses and their grading are regularly reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Committee. Deficient grades will be reported to the Academic Performance Review Committee (APRC). Deficient grades are defined as R, U or F. The R, U or F grade may be given to a student who fails to complete course requirements. In addition, a student may be assigned an R or an F if they fail to demonstrate appropriate professional behavior, or they fail to attend or participate in required course activities even if they have a passing score on examinations or clinical evaluations. The grade of I signifies non-completion of required coursework that must be completed to receive academic credit. The grade of R signifies a provisional failure caused by an identified area of deficiency and must be remediated before a student can advance to the next academic year. Upon remediation of the component, the R grade can convert only to a P grade. An F grade will remain on the academic record, and the successful completion of the repeated or remedial section of the course can only result in a P grade. Students must pass all required courses, exams and activities for the current academic year before they can move on to the next academic year.
Students must receive a passing grade in every required course to be recommended for promotion and graduation. Any student with a deficient grade who is granted approval by the APRC to remediate the deficiency must complete the required remedial coursework with a passing grade. Remediation requirements (see also Academic Failure, Academic Warning and Probation, and Dismissal) will be determined by the appropriate course director and approved by Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education as appropriate, as well as the APRC.
The transcript is an unabridged record of a student’s coursework, therefore, current and final course grades, including failures, will be noted thereon. Current and final course grades are meant to cover F or U grades as well as I and R grades. I and R grades are printed on the transcript until coursework is made up or remediated. Therefore, R and I grades do not remain on the student’s final transcript upon graduation. For students who receive an I grade, any incomplete coursework must be completed within the period of time prescribed by the course director or the grade will be converted to a W.
Multiple Choice Examinations
Testing Applications
Students will utilize the ExamSoft testing application and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) web-based testing browser for most written examinations throughout the four years of the curriculum. In order to utilize these applications, students must procure a laptop that meets the specifications outlined in their cohort’s welcome letter. During the program, students may be advised to wait to download certain operating system or program upgrades or instructed to update to a newer version of the software, in order to remain compliant with our testing partners’ regulations. Failure to secure a compliant laptop or prematurely downloading upgrades/enhancements could jeopardize a student’s ability to sit for required examinations.
Expectations on Test Day
Students will regularly receive email notifications regarding exam day preparations and expectations. Students are required to follow the communicated guidelines for test day procedures and should adhere to proctor instructions while in the testing room. If a student fails to comply with pre-exam instructions or proctor directions, they may be reported for professionalism issues.
Exam Rescheduling
Should any issue arise that necessitates a change in the planned administration of an assessment, MCOM may administer the assessment anytime during the next 7 days as long as the assessment does not start before 7:00 a.m. and does not end after 8:00 p.m. Students are required to attend, complete and/or submit assessments during the rescheduled time. Failure to do so may result in a score of zero.
Grade Determination
The grades are described as follows; however, see course syllabi for specific grade determination.
- · H = Honors
- · PC = Pass with Commendation
- · P = Pass
- · F = Fail
- · S = Satisfactory
- · U = Unsatisfactory
- · I = Incomplete
- · R = Remediation Required
- · W = Withdraw without penalty
- · WP = Withdraw Passing
- · WF = Withdraw Failing
- · Any alteration to this policy will be listed in a course syllabus available to students no later than the 1st day of class.
Timing of Remediation
Year 1 Courses
Students who receive an F, R, or U grade must remediate the course at the end of the year, prior to taking the Year 1 Comprehensive Exam (Y1CE). Students who earn an F grade will receive a schedule of remediation activities designed and communicated by the course director to be completed after Course 4 ends. Students who receive an R grade due to an exam failure will retake their examination on the preclinical universal makeup day. Year 1 students who must remediate (F, R or U) may need to delay the beginning of their planned summer research or other activities in order to complete their remediation activities. Students who do not successfully complete remediation will be reviewed by the APRC for further action.
Year 2 Courses
Students who receive an F, R, or U grade must remediate the course prior to taking the Comprehensive Basic Science Exam (CBSE). Students who earn an F grade will receive a schedule of remediation activities designed and communicated by the course director after the completion of Course 7. Students who receive an R grade due to an exam failure will retake their examination on the preclinical universal makeup day. Any Year 2 students who must remediate (F, R or U), may need to delay the beginning of their Step 1 preparation in order to complete their remediation activities. Those who do not successfully complete remediation will be reviewed by the APRC for further action.
Year 3 Clerkships
Students who receive an F, R or U grade in a year 3 clerkship must remediate the clerkship in its entirety prior to proceeding to the fourth year. The remediation plan is determined by the clerkship director in consultation with the comparable clerkship director of the sister campus. The remediation plan is presented for approval by the APRC. If the remediation plan is to repeat a clerkship exam, these are given on the clinical universal make up day(s). If the remediation plan is to repeat the clerkship in its entirety, this will occur at the end of the clerkship year. All year 3 remediation must be completed prior to starting any year 4 academic curriculum, unless granted permission by the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and approved by the APRC. Students who do not successfully complete remediation will be reviewed by the APRC for further action.
Requirements for Graduation
1. The student must obtain a passing grade in all courses of the established curriculum leading to the MD degree, including track requirements.
2. The student must pass USMLE Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (2CK) and Step 2 Clinical Skills (2CS) examinations.
3. The student must successfully complete a summative Comprehensive Clinical Practice Examination. Details of the Comprehensive Clinical Performance Examination (CCPX) are provided below.
i. The CCPX consists of twelve Standardized Patient (SP) stations simulating focused patient encounters in an office or emergency room setting. The CCPX will be administered during the last clerkship rotation of the year. The CCPX is designed to evaluate your knowledge, skills and attitudes in the clinical setting. It is also designed to help you prepare for the USMLE Step 2 CS examination, required for licensure and graduation.
ii. You will be assigned specific focused tasks at each station. All encounters will include a rating of your interpersonal skills by an SP. Each of the encounters will require a focused history and physical examination, based upon the chief complaint. You will then document the history and physical exam findings, followed by the development of a differential diagnosis. You will be asked to defend these differential diagnoses with findings from the history and physical exam that support the diagnoses. Additionally, you will be asked to list specific diagnostic tests that will aid in your patient management. Some encounters may require patient counseling.
iii. All cases have been developed by the Center Directors, the clerkship directors, and other pertinent clerkship faculty and are based on common scenarios you have or will encounter or discuss during your clinical rotations. The skills and behaviors be evaluating include: 1) your interaction with the patient; 2) the quality and appropriateness of your history taking and/or physical exam skills; 3) your ability to counsel and educate patients regarding their condition and/or risks for disease; 4) your ability to develop a differential diagnosis and treatment plan based on encounter-specific information.
4. The student must achieve all MCOM Program Objectives for graduation, including the service learning and teaching requirements with appropriate signoff within Archivum.
i. Forty (40) hours of service learning and 20 hours of teaching are requirements for graduation. Students have until the end of fall semester of year four to meet this requirement. Relevant deadlines for completion can be found here.
ii. The service learning and teaching requirements activities must be recorded in Archivum. Instructions for documenting hours can be found here.
5. The student must satisfactorily demonstrate the professional attitudes and values expected of physicians.
6. The student must have made the appropriate arrangements to discharge all financial obligations to the University and attended the financial aid exit interview session (if applicable). The only exception is the repayment of loans that have a specified maturity date.
7. Unless prior arrangements (e.g., research position) have been approved by the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs or his/her designee, the student must have accepted an approved residency for graduate medical education.
8. Transfer students admitted with advanced standing from an approved medical school must complete years 3 and 4 of the MCOM curriculum at a minimum.
Standards of Progress for Veterans Affairs (VA) Students
In general, applicable law requires that educational assistance benefits to veterans and other eligible persons be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of his or her training objective. Benefits can be resumed if the student reenrolls in the same educational institution and in the same program. In other cases, benefits cannot be resumed unless VA finds that the cause of the unsatisfactory attendance, conduct or progress has been removed and the program of education or training to be pursued by the student is suitable to his or her aptitudes, interests, and abilities. Contact the University of South Florida Office of Veteran Success to determine the implications of unsatisfactory performance, academic warning/probation, and dismissal as it relates to VA educational benefits.
The following applies to MCOM students:
- · Unsatisfactory Performance
As defined in the Unsatisfactory Performance section, unsatisfactory performance may ultimately result in dismissal from MCOM. The student has the responsibility to contact the USF Office of Veteran Success to determine the implications of unsatisfactory performance as it relates to VA educational benefits.
- · Academic Failure, Academic Warning and Probation
As defined in the Academic Failure, Academic Warning and Probation, and Dismissal section, students may ultimately be subject to dismissal from MCOM if they do not achieve academic good standing under established rules. The student has the responsibility to contact the USF Office of Veteran Success to determine the implications of academic failure, academic warning and probation as it relates to VA educational benefits.
- · Dismissal
As defined in the Academic Failure, Academic Warning and Probation, and Dismissal section, students may be subject to dismissal from MCOM. The student has the responsibility to contact the USF Office of Veteran Success to determine the implications of dismissal as it relates to VA educational benefits.
Academic Honesty Guidelines
Students are awarded academic degrees in recognition of successful completion of coursework in the study of medicine and demonstrated integration of the academic standards for honesty and integrity expected of all graduates. Broadly defined, academic honesty is the completion of all academic endeavors and claims of scholarly knowledge as representative of one’s own efforts.
All students are required to maintain academic integrity throughout their enrollment at USF MCOM. Any student who commits a violation of academic integrity as listed in section IV-A of the USF Academic Dishonesty and Disruption of Academic Process Guidelines outlined in detail in the USF Regulation 3.027 will be subject to review by the APRC and consideration of academic sanctions pursuant to the process set forth in the section on the Academic Performance Review Committee (APRC).
Consequences
Punishment for the violation of any of the academic honesty guidelines will depend on the seriousness of the disruption and will range from a private verbal reprimand to dismissal from MCOM.
Reconsideration or Appeal
Students have the right to petition the APRC for reconsideration and pursue further appeal pursuant to the process set forth in Appeal Mechanism for Disciplinary Action or Dismissal.
Requirement to Disclose
Students are required to notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of any arrest, charge or conviction of any criminal offense (misdemeanor or felony), indictment, imprisonment, placement on probation or receipt of deferred adjudication within fifteen (15) days of the incident. Failure to report any such incident will result in corrective or disciplinary action by the APRC for unprofessional behavior. The facts and circumstances of each case will determine what APRC corrective or disciplinary action is taken, up to and including dismissal from MCOM.
Professionalism Values
Professionalism is grounded in the fundamental values of honesty, integrity and fairness and is an essential part of the practice of medicine. Students are expected to display and will be examined by these exemplary behaviors. Students are expected to appreciate their responsibility to their profession.
In addition to behavioral standards related to the medical profession, students are expected to uphold the principles of honor set forth by the University of South Florida in The Commitment to Honor.
Anyone seeking impartial assistance to identify and navigate professionalism concerns affecting faculty-student relations, academic achievement and/or institutional effectiveness may contact Olga Skalkos, PhD, at the Office of Student and Resident Professional Development (OSSR) (813-974-8509).
Anyone seeking to report lapses in professionalism may contact any of the following:
Kira Zwygart, MD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs (813-974-2068)
Melissa Brannen, MD, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, USF-Lehigh Valley (610-402-2563)
Bryan Bognar, MD, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs (813-974-7131)
Robert Barraco, MD, Associate Dean for Educational Affairs USF-Lehigh Valley (610-402-2563)
Cuc Mai, MD, Associate Dean and DIO, Graduate Medical Education (813-974-4478)
Deborah DeWaay, MD, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education (813-974-7131)
Value | Behavior | Example |
Responsibility | Comes on time and is prepared |
|
| Informs | Informs faculty Emergency absences are reported the same day. |
| Assures | Arranges for coverage and discusses patients |
| Completes | Submits |
| Complies | Follows needed |
| Shares | Does |
| Responds to communications in a timely | Answers emails, |
| Acknowledges | Acknowledges mistakes and accepts correction or |
Self-Assessment/ Improvement | Accepts | Listens |
| Acknowledges limitations of knowledge, | Does |
| Shows the | Presents |
| Asks appropriate | Asks |
| Consistently goes beyond the minimum in seeking knowledge and | Demonstrates reading about topics or cases |
| Balances | Attends |
| Provides | Volunteers |
Ethical Behavior | Attributes ideas appropriately | Avoids |
| Demonstrates honesty and integrity | Does not |
| Recognizes | Demonstrates awareness of potential sources of Demonstrates awareness of conflicts of interest |
Appropriate | Demonstrates courtesy, politeness and patience | Listens |
| Maintains appropriate boundaries | Does not become too familiar in speech |
| Maintains appropriate appearance and demeanor | Good grooming/hygiene; appropriate and |
| Respects | Asks about cultural background and |
| Considers | Listens |
| Demonstrates | Acknowledges own non-verbal and verbal comments |
Patient-Centered Care | Develops | Uses open |
| Incorporates patient’s views on health and | Collaborates with patient and inquires as to patient preference for |
| Demonstrates compassion toward patients |
|
| Advocates for the patient | Gets appropriate individuals involved in patient’s care, makes |
Social Media Participation Guidelines
The USF Health Office of Communications and Marketing provides guidelines as to how MCOM supports institutional communication goals through social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram). Institutional representation via online social media platforms must only be initiated and authorized through the USF Health Office of Communications and Marketing and the USF Information Technology. Any sites or pages existing without prior authorization are subject to review, and when discovered may be removed.
USF Health email addresses should not be used in conjunction with unofficial or personal social media accounts and profiles. Remember, everything that you do online can and will live forever. Think before you post. A closed network is not necessarily private. It can and will be shared, stored and spread globally. Do not post anything online that you would not feel comfortable seeing on the front page of a newspaper, or on national television. Balance your professional and personal social media presences.
Never disclose patient information on social media. Patient information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Students must be familiar with the provisions of this act and respect its intent at all times. Students must comply with HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Social media responsibility is an important aspect of professionalism. All MCOM colleagues – including students – must adhere to the following:
1. Always protect patient privacy. Never reveal any patient health information that would identify the patient. Always abide by all MCOM HIPAA requirements.
2. Know and follow university guidelines from the Office of Rights and Responsibilities and Responsible Computing.
3. When discussing MCOM, or matters related to the college, you must make it clear that you are speaking for yourself and not on behalf of MCOM. If you publish content to any website outside of MCOM and it involves work you do or subjects associated with MCOM, use a disclaimer such as: "The views expressed on this blog; website are my own and do not reflect the views of the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine."
4. You are personally responsible for content you publish. Be aware that what you publish on blogs, wikis, social networks or any other form of user-generated media will be public and often cannot be edited or removed.
5. Use a personal (non-USF Health) e-mail address. Do not use your USF Health email address as your means of identification for social media participation.
6. Respect copyright and fair use laws. This includes not publishing materials owned by USF or MCOM.
7. Do not disclose confidential or proprietary information. Do not disclose information related to MCOM that is not public. Perception is reality. If you identify yourself as an MCOM student, ensure your profile and related content is consistent with expected behaviors. In social media, the lines between public and private, personal and professional are blurred. By identifying yourself as associated with the college, you are creating perceptions about MCOM and yourself with your colleagues and others. If you choose to identify your association with MCOM, be sure that all content is consistent with the college’s values and professional standards.
8. Contact the MCOM Office of Student Affairs or USF Health Office of Communications and Marketing if you have questions or are unsure about the application of these guidelines to your social media activities.
9. Do not ask faculty or staff who have a scheduling or evaluation relationship with you to join your social media site(s).
10. Be aware that you must maintain a professional demeanor at all times, even when you are off duty.
The American Medical Student Association has also published useful guidance on the appropriate use of social media which can be found here.
Student Evaluation Policy Statement
MCOM strives to provide the best possible experience for our students, faculty, and staff. As such, student feedback is an essential component for continuous quality improvement of our teaching faculty and curriculum development. The feedback received is vitally important to assess the program’s strengths and weaknesses as well as identifying opportunities for improvement of the educational experience of future students.
In an effort to improve the evaluation (response) rate from students and ensure MCOM is receiving the best feedback possible, the following guidelines will be implemented for all enrolled students:
- · Students will be required to complete a minimum of 80% of the evaluations assigned to them
- · All evaluations should be completed within 25 days upon receipt
- · Students may suspend evaluations only under the following circumstances:
1. The evaluation was assigned in error
2. The student did not spend enough time with an educator to properly evaluate them
- · At most, students will be permitted to suspend up to 20% of their evaluations. Once a student exceeds a 20% suspension rate, their completion of evaluations will be reviewed on a case by case basis
- · Comments provided on evaluations should be constructive, respectful, and made in a professional manner
Please note that levels of anonymity are strictly enforced and fail safes are put into place to ensure a student cannot be identified from their evaluation.
Student evaluation completion compliance rates will be monitored on a quarterly basis and any student found to be out of compliance will be required to attend a mandatory one-hour session to complete any pending evaluations. Students will receive a notice via email that they are required to attend the mandatory session to complete their evaluations. Failure to complete evaluations and/or attend the mandatory sessions may result in the following disciplinary actions:
- · A written notice from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
- · A mandatory meeting with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
- · Appearance before the Academic Performance Review Committee (APRC)
The practice of providing detailed quality feedback is an integral part of developing the professional skills students will need as future physicians. It is the college’s goal that students will not only gain more experience giving and receiving feedback but will improve essential professional development skills while providing quality insight into our faculty and curriculum for continuous quality improvement.