MD Program - UNC School of Medicine
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4th Year Curriculum General Information
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General Information
Course selection and registration are coordinated through the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager’s Office of the School of Medicine under the supervision of the Electives Sub-Committee. Students scheduling courses must make arrangements through the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager’s Office, and must comply with regulations noted on the following pages.
Requirements for the medical degree include eight full-time fourth-year courses, each of four weeks' duration. A full time course has the credit value of six hours, and courses meeting the equivalent may be substituted with advisor approval.
Each student's curriculum must include at least five courses in which the student has primary responsibilities for patient care:
· one in Advanced Practice,
· one as an acting intern in a community hospital,. an elective at UNC with a basic science component that will count as your Integration Selective, and
· one in the recognition and care of critically/acutely ill patients
The Advanced Practice Selective requirement must be selected from the series of courses designated APSM (Advanced Practice Selective); the acting internship from the series of courses designated AHEC; the critical care requirement from the series of courses designated SURS (Critical Care/ Surgery Selective); and one elective from the electives list coded as the Integration Selective. In addition, each student must have three six-credit hour electives. Two three-credit hours are equivalent to one six-credit hour elective. Graduation from the School of Medicine with the degree of Doctor of Medicine is dependent upon the completion of the required and elective curricula in a manner satisfactory to the Student Promotions Committee, acting for the faculty.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill awards degrees in August, December, and May. The School of Medicine has a formal hooding ceremony at the May commencement. In order to be considered by the Student Promotions Committee for graduation, the minimum requirements must be completed by the end of the elective period immediately preceding the degree date.
Students who wish to postpone graduation to take additional courses must obtain permission from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
Student performance must be evaluated by the responsible preceptor(s) at the conclusion of each course. The evaluation is a part of a student’s permanent academic record and is available for review by the student. Faculty with legitimate educational reasons may also review student records. There is a policy for appeal of an evaluation, should the need arise (see “Article 9 Appeals") http://www.med.unc.edu/curriculum/Administration/policy/04%20policies%20Article09%20revision.11F2.pdf. An evaluation of Incomplete in an elective converts to a grade of Fail at the end of one year.
Each course must be evaluated by students. Copies of the course evaluations without student names are forwarded annually to the departments. Copies also are maintained on file in the office of the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager for use by students who are choosing courses.
Medical students enrolled at UNC-CH are protected by liability insurance, provided that the insurer is informed of scheduled course work at least one month prior to the beginning of the course. Students should be aware that late schedule changes may jeopardize coverage. In addition, students taking electives at other institutions must usually verify liability coverage to the host institution. The UNC policy covers students working at other institutions only if (1) the course is for credit and, (2) the insurance carrier receives prior notification as stated above.
Faculty ApprovalsCourses for credit must be approved by the appropriate advisors and documented on forms provided by the Office of the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager prior to the commencement of such courses and by published deadlines. Specific instructions are given on subsequent pages.
When first or second-year students wish to take an elective, they must have the approval of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Educational Resources Coordinator, and the course director. Students who earn elective credits during the pre-clinical years should be aware that the Student Promotions Committee reviews the entire program as it relates to the quality of performance. If the program is judged to be deficient by this committee, studies beyond the minimum seven courses may be required for graduation.
When planning the fourth year, students should select a career goal advisor who represents their career goal. Students’ courses for the fourth year must be approved by this career goal advisor. Students will view their schedule in the One45 program. Opportunities for changing scheduled selectives are very limited. Students who want changes in their schedule can request them during the designated drop-add period, or in the case of electives at other schools, as early as possible. Enrollment in non-credit seminars is informal and requires only the approval of the course director.
Student PriorityFourth-year students are given priority for courses in preliminary scheduling, and in the first part of each drop-add period.
SchedulingScheduling for the fourth year begins in the spring of the third year when students turn in their registration packets to the Office of the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager. Based on student registration packets, the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager prepares a schedule for each student. Schedules are distributed to students in late-May.
Schedule ChangesEstablished drop-add deadlines for 2009-10 electives are as follows: fall semester, June 1 - June 12, 2009; spring semester, October 19-October 30, 2009. The AHEC AI or Advanced Practice Selectives cannot be dropped or added but can be switched with another student. The Critical Care and Integration Selectives can be dropped and added where there is space available.
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain his/her career goal advisor’s signature of approval, to secure any other documentation necessary, and to submit these to the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager by the published deadlines. For courses dropped and added, students are enrolled in courses and course directors notified only after all documentation has been filed with the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager. Students cannot drop or add any course once it has started.
Registration
Registration must be done in the summer, fall, and spring of the fourth year. Students must register for each period in which one or more courses have been scheduled, and this registration must be done by deadlines which are posted on the general forum. Students who expect to be out of town at the time of registration should notify the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager. Fourth-year students are not required to register for credit for a session if they do not have courses scheduled. However, students who are receiving financial aid are not eligible for aid if they are not registered for a session. Students planning such a fourth-year schedule should review the university requirements outlined in the school’s policy on “Modifications of the Standard Educational Program.” http://www.med.unc.edu/curriculum/Administration/policy/04%20policies%20Article10.9F2.pdf
The school’s policy on “Delay of Examinations, Required Coursework, and/or Clinical Responsibilities” stipulates that students are expected to meet the attendance requirements of every course. Minor absences of a day or two from an elective must be approved in advance by the course director. Otherwise, dates of scheduled courses may not be altered.
Fourth Year Electives Outside the UNC School of Medicine SystemStudents may arrange to take electives in the Student Exchange Program at other North Carolina Medical Schools; Duke, Wake Forest, or the Brody School of Medicine. Students may also take electives in other schools of this university, in other universities, and in appropriate non-university environments. At least six of the required eight courses must be taken within the University of North Carolina School of Medicine's program; four of these are the AHEC Acting Internship, Advanced Practice Selective, Critical Care/Surgery Selective and Integration Selective. UNC elective periods may not be altered to facilitate scheduling electives at other institutions.
It is the student’s responsibility to assure that the outside program receives all appropriate documentation and evaluations. See “Away Rotations”. If students are receiving financial aid, they are also responsible for notifying the Financial Aid Officer of any approved electives taken outside the UNC system. Students enroll at the UNC School of Medicine and pay tuition and fees for such courses here. Most medical schools have a reciprocal arrangement so that students are charged tuition and fees only at their home institution. Students taking electives away will be covered by UNC liability insurance if the course is taken for credit, and if the insurance carrier is notified one month prior to the starting date of the away elective. Most schools require visiting students to show proof of liability insurance coverage.
Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements while participating in an elective outside the UNC system.
Tuition and Fees For Fourth Year Courses
Electives Committee, Scheduling, Financial Aid, Tuition & Fees, Student Evaluation, Academic Assistance
| Vacant | Electives Committee Chair | (919) 843-9373 |
| Leanne M. Shook | Clerkship & Elective Program Manager CB 9535 1001 Bondurant Hall | (919) 962-8338 |
Vacant | Clerkship & Elective Scheduling Assistant CB 9535 1001 Bondurant Hall | (919) 843-7095 |
| Sheila Graham McDonald | Financial Aid Officer CB 9535 1001 Bondurant Hall | (919) 962-6117 |
| Georgette Dent, MD | Associate Dean for Student Affairs Director, Academic Assistance Programs/ Student Evaluation (Assistant: Jeri Copeland) CB 9535 1060 Bondurant Hall | (919) 962-8334 |
Instructions for Scheduling
General Comments
1. No credit is granted retroactively. In order to receive credit, students must complete all the forms and be formally enrolled before beginning courses.2. At the time of preliminary scheduling and during drop-add periods, students may reserve elective periods for courses they will try to arrange outside the UNC School of Medicine program (Away Rotation). If a student does not subsequently confirm the arrangements, arrangements are not subsequently confirmed, he/she should notify the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager to cancel the "Away" rotation and to schedule another elective, if necessary.
Preliminary Fourth Year Scheduling
1. Select a career goal advisor(s).
2. Consult with your career goal advisor(s) by appointment.
3. Complete your required selective request forms choosing from courses coded APSM, AHEC, SURS and Integratoin Selective.
4. Complete your elective choice forms making sure that you have chosen enough electives to allow substitution if you are closed out of some courses.
5. Obtain your career goal advisor's signature on your registration packet indicating approval
6. Return all these forms to the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager in 1001 Bondurant Hall by the stated deadline stated in your registration packet.
1. To arrange electives at Duke, Wake Forest, or Brody Schools of Medicine, please do the following:
(a) Consult the on-line website for course listings at the host school.
(b) Give the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager your requested course(s) in writing with course number, course name and dates of rotation.
(c) The Clerkship & Elective Program Manager will make arrangements with the host school.
(d) The Clerkship & Elective Program Manager will notify you when courses have been approved by placing copies of the approval letters in your mailbox.
(e) Once courses have been approved, you should meet with the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager to finalize registration.
2. To arrange electives at any other facility, please do the following:
In order to receive credit for an elective at another institution, you must:
(a) Obtain a course description from the catalog or on the website of the host school.
(b) Obtain from the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager the appropriate form (Student Application for Extramural Course).
(c) Obtain the signature indicating approval of the UNC faculty member who directs a comparable course at this institution.
(d) Obtain the signature indicating approval of your career goal advisor.
(e) Return to the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager the extramural course form with Sections I and II completed, the course description, and any other material requested by the host school.
1. Pick up a One-Time Elective form in room 1001 Bondurant Hall
2. Have your faculty preceptor complete the form indicating that the elective is a one time arrangement for you. On the form, the faculty preceptor must give a course description of this independent study.
3. Obtain the written approval of the chair of the department in which the elective is to be taken.
4. Obtain the written approval of the chair of the Electives Committee.
5. Obtain the written approval of your career goal advisor.
6. Return the form with all approvals to the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager’s Office.
1. Electives may be dropped and added. The AHEC AI and Advanced Practice Selectives cannot be dropped or added, but can be switched with another student. The Critical Care Selective and Integration Selectives may be dropped and added where there is space available
2. Check the course description to assure that you comply with prerequisites for any course you want to add.
3. Fourth-year students
(a) During the drop-add periods listed below, check the availability report located on-line at http://www.med.unc.edu/sa/schedule/dropadd.htm for availability of courses you wish to add. Call 962-8335 to make a drop/add appointment with the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager to process the appropriate paperwork (drop/add form).
(b) While the AHEC AI, APSM and Integration Selectives cannot be dropped or added, students may switch them. Identify a student who wants to switch with you. Both of you will need to schedule a meeting with the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager.
(c) Consult with your career goal advisor about proposed changes and obtain written approval for courses to be dropped and added. Obtain any necessary permissions from course directors. The drop/add form must be returned to 1001 Bondurant Hall.
Drop - Add Periods Academic Year 2008-09 | Dates |
For summer session, fall and spring semesters (periods 1-10) | June 1-June 12, 2009 |
For spring semester (periods 7-10) | October 19 - 30, 2009 |
4. First and second-year students
(a) Contact the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager to check the availability of the course you want to add.
(b) Obtain an elective request form from the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager's office.
(c) Obtain signatures from the Educational Resources Coordinator and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs indicating approval. (In some cases the course director's approval is also required.)
(d) Return the approval form promptly to the Clerkship & Elective Program Manager's Office. If your plans change notify the office as soon as possible.
(e) Students must sign up for the course before the semester begins.
5. If you receive financial aid, consult with the Financial Aid Officer about changes in eligibility or amount of awards.
Fourth year students are required to complete an Acting Internship at an AHEC Site. In most cases, housing is available to UNC medical students free of charge with the possible exception of a security deposit. Students must contact AHEC staff listed below to arrange housing.
AREA L | Apartments are available in Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and Wilson. Apartments are shared with other medical students and contain basic furniture, kitchen equipment, cable TV, wireless internet, microwave, and telephone. Students should bring their own linens (twin beds), towels, and expendable items. No housing for families. Keys must be picked up at the Area L AHEC office in Rocky Mount, NC. Students may contact Toni Denson, ORPCE Housing Coordinator at (252) 972-6958 for assistance. Rotations in Jackson, Hollister, Littleton, Scotland Neck, Spring Hope, and Whitakers require additional travel from AHEC housing to the practice site. |
| ASHEVILLE/HENDERSONVILLE AREA | MAHEC has nine apartments and one house in the Asheville area and one apartment in Hendersonville. The apartments generally sleep 3-4 persons with a full kitchen and one full bath. The Asheville house sleeps ten with a large kitchen, dining room, living room and 2.5 baths. All beds are single beds. Most rooms have two beds, but some have three or more beds. Depending on our schedule, you may have one or more roommates. Students must provide their own bedding and towels for these sites. All other locations: Housing for rotation locations outside Asheville/Hendersonville is usually in private homes in more rural settings and may include garage or basement apartments, separate guest houses or bedrooms in persons' homes with shared kitchen and bathroom space. General Information: Most MAHEC housing sites do have either wireless or high-speed internet access, although it is a good idea to check with MAHEC first if this is a particular concern. Students must have local access numbers for internet service providers or make arrangements to use the internet at clinics, hospitals or libraries as available with rotations. There are no family accommodations and NO PETS. For placements in MAHEC's northern or mountainous areas (Bakersville, Burnsville, Highlands, Linville, Spruce Pine) during the winter months (October - March), 4WD or AWD would be recommended but is not required. All housing application forms and the housing agreement can be found on MAHEC's website at http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/student. For additional information, questions or concerns, contact the ORPCE Logistics Coordinator, Gaye Colvin at 828-771-3434 or by email gcolvin@mtn.ncahec.org. |
CHARLOTTE | Charlotte AHEC is an eight county region and housing is assigned based on rotation location. The cities of Charlotte, Shelby and Concord have houses and apartments with basic furniture and private or shared double bedrooms, within walking distance of the teaching hospitals. Students provide their own towels and linens for twin beds. Married student housing is not available. Initial assignment is made through the Charlotte Office of Regional Primary Care Education. Contact: ORPCE Housing Coordinator phone: 704-512-6537. Students must submit The Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS)/Charlotte AHEC Visiting Student Application for all rotations on CHS property (Part 1 of application). For students seeking housing, a $50.00 security deposit must accompany the application form with Part 2 completed. |
GREENSBORO | Shared apartments (up to 4 students) are available on the campus of the Moses Cone Hospital. All apartments are two bedrooms (2 twin beds in each), bathroom, living room, and kitchen (appliances, dishes, pots/pans furnished). All apartments are equipped with basic cable TV, furniture and phone (incoming long distance only). Students must supply their own bed and bath linens. No family accommodations and NO PETS. Limited rural housing is also available and includes families that will accept boarders in Asheboro and Reidsville. Housing priority is given to health science students enrolled in NC AHEC approved Primary Care rotations. All housing assignments are on a first-come-first served basis. It is highly recommended that requests be made at least 6 weeks prior to rotation start date. To request housing, submit (1) NC Request for Housing application and (2) Student Housing Agreement. Both forms must be submitted before housing will be assigned. The forms are available on our website http://www.gahec.org/SandP along with additional housing information. Questions should be directed to Patricia Parrish, Housing Coordinator by email at Patricia.Parrish@mosescone.com or call (336)832-8556 |
| NORTHWEST | Apartments are available in Winston-Salem, Mount Airy, Boone, Hickory, Morganton and Salisbury. Apartments are shared with other health professions students and contain basic furniture, kitchen equipment, cable TV, wireless internet, microwave and telephone. Students should bring their own linens, towels and personal items. Host family housing is available in Linville, Elkin, Lenoir, Mooresville, North Wilkesboro and Sparta. No guests or pets allowed. Submit housing application to Angela Hodges, ORPCE Program Coordinator, ahodges@wfubmc.edu or 336-713-7717, 336-713-7701 fax. |
WAKE | Rooms in the Main Hospital are provided for students on call. Students may contact Lynette Hawley at (919) 350-7993 for assistance. |
SEAHEC | SEAHEC does provide housing to students with rotations in southeastern North Carolina. Apartments are located in Wilmington, Burgaw, Whiteville and the Caswell Beach/Oak Island area. Housing is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and while we do all we can to accommodate roommate requests, some request may not be possible during certain peak occupancy times. Due to the limited availability of housing, students may not have spouses or friends join them while staying in SEAHEC housing. Most of the apartments are two-bedroom (two twin beds in each) with two full baths. All apartments are furnished with a microwave, pots/pans, cooking utensils, dishes, glasses, silverware and furniture. Linens and pillows are not provided. You must bring your own sheets and towels. Wireless internet service is provided in all student apartments. Students need to sign an internet usage agreement and get the access code from the Student Services office. Students may also use the computers in the SEAHEC Library. We hope that you will enjoy your stay in SEAHEC housing and we look forward to meeting you. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions or concerns. For additional information, please visit our website at: http://seahec.net/Departments/StudentServices/SEAHECStudentHousing/tabid/341/Default.aspx |
For regularly scheduled Acting Internship electives to the AHEC's, housing is arranged automatically by the AHEC office, upon notification by the Dean’s office.
Please check www.ncahec.net/students/travel.htm for the most current information on travel and housing.
The purpose of the fourth-year curriculum is to offer a flexible educational experience which can be tailored to the career goals and intellectual interests of each student. Clinical activities are offered as well as opportunities for in depth study and investigation. Approved courses may include educational programs in other schools of the university, in other universities, in other clinical settings in the state, and in foreign countries.
The required fourth-year selectives and the elective courses approved by the respective departments are described on the following pages. In addition, students with special interests may design individual projects in conjunction with faculty sponsors.
All courses must be approved by the student’s Career Goal Advisor prior to the beginning of the course; there are no provisions for retroactive course credit.