Dear Students,
This email contains essential updates regarding our students and clinical rotations. All students should read their class section in its entirety. Again, expect emails to occur on a regular basis while we are all navigating this crisis.
These are challenging and rapidly changing times for all of us. Thank you for your patience as we are trying to make responsible and thoughtful plans regarding your education. Faculty are working extremely hard to adjust, so please be understanding of last-minute decisions. It is critical to make sure you are regularly checking your email. Your ability to be flexible is appreciated.
More than ever, it is extremely important to reach out to your small group advisor or Dr. Mary Jo Lechowicz, 678-575-7677, or any of us in the dean’s office with any questions or concerns. Remaining engaged is important for your education and your overall well-being.
As stated before, if any student has any concerns about their participation in their education (e.g. students with preexisting conditions, are immunocompromised, taking care of someone who is, or the elderly, etc.), they should first check with their doctor regarding recommendations and then notify the dean’s office so that if necessary, individualized study plans can be made.
Updates as of Monday, March 16, 2020 highlighted below in red. We would like to let you all know that we understand the chaos and stress this has caused everyone. We want to reassure all students that regardless of the current circumstances, we are all working together to be flexible with the curriculum and individual student schedules to ensure we can make-up the lost experiences as best as we can at a later time.
In addition, at the request of the Medical Student Senate, we have asked Dr. Varun Phadke to give an update on COVID-19 to the medical students. He has enthusiastically agreed and we are working on a day/time to host this virtually. We will provide you the details in the next 1-2 days.
We have broken down the update below by class, but we are sending all students and faculty the same update so everyone is on the same page.
Class of 2020:
Class of 2021:
Class of 2022:
Class of 2023:
Erica Brownfield, MD, FACP
Associate Dean, Medical Education
Professor of Medicine
William Eley, MD, MPH
Executive Associate Dean
Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs
Graduate Medical and Continuing Medical Education
Professor of Hematology/Oncology
This email contains essential updates regarding our students and clinical rotations. All students should read their class section in its entirety. Again, expect emails to occur on a regular basis while we are all navigating this crisis.
These are challenging and rapidly changing times for all of us. Thank you for your patience as we are trying to make responsible and thoughtful plans regarding your education. Faculty are working extremely hard to adjust, so please be understanding of last-minute decisions. It is critical to make sure you are regularly checking your email. Your ability to be flexible is appreciated.
More than ever, it is extremely important to reach out to your small group advisor or Dr. Mary Jo Lechowicz, 678-575-7677, or any of us in the dean’s office with any questions or concerns. Remaining engaged is important for your education and your overall well-being.
As stated before, if any student has any concerns about their participation in their education (e.g. students with preexisting conditions, are immunocompromised, taking care of someone who is, or the elderly, etc.), they should first check with their doctor regarding recommendations and then notify the dean’s office so that if necessary, individualized study plans can be made.
Updates as of Monday, March 16, 2020 highlighted below in red. We would like to let you all know that we understand the chaos and stress this has caused everyone. We want to reassure all students that regardless of the current circumstances, we are all working together to be flexible with the curriculum and individual student schedules to ensure we can make-up the lost experiences as best as we can at a later time.
In addition, at the request of the Medical Student Senate, we have asked Dr. Varun Phadke to give an update on COVID-19 to the medical students. He has enthusiastically agreed and we are working on a day/time to host this virtually. We will provide you the details in the next 1-2 days.
We have broken down the update below by class, but we are sending all students and faculty the same update so everyone is on the same page.
Class of 2020:
- Students currently on clinical rotations should still report tomorrow. We are hoping we can work with clinical sites to allow students to complete any final clinical requirements before graduation. Your final rotation may be supplemented by online learning, but any necessary changes in your final month will be provided to you by your clerkship director.
- All Discovery-related student meeting travel is cancelled at this time.
- The modified Match Day plan that involved small groups is cancelled. We cannot tell you how disappointed we are to have to do this. We will send students a Zoom link to experience Dr. Eley’s address and Ms. Eddingfield’s countdown. We encourage students to still celebrate at home with their loved ones. The Student Affairs Office is working on sending students personalized emails at noon on Friday to inform them of their match.
- All elective non-clinical courses (e.g. Harvey) will be modified by the individual instructor to deliver material virtually.
- If there are any small group sessions scheduled, they will be done virtually. Instructions on how to participate will be given to you by your small group advisor.
Class of 2021:
- All clinical clerkships are suspended until at least April 6th. Students should not report to their clerkships tomorrow. All clerkship directors are aware. We will ensure that faculty are made aware this evening as well. It doesn’t hurt however to reach out to your supervisors to make sure they know. Please do not contact individual clerkship directors. Direct all questions to Dr. Erica Brownfield. Please be patient over the next 24-48 hours while we are working on what you can do during this time. We will reach back out with an updated communication regarding this by Wednesday.
- Students planning on doing an away elective in April will need to find an alternative experience. Given that the AAMC has encouraged all medical schools to suspend visiting student electives, you may have already received a cancellation notice from the institution you planned on visiting. Please work with Drs. Felner and Heron and Laura Hopkins in Student Affairs to alter your schedule. Please notify the host institution that you will not be coming in April for your elective rotation.
- About half of the class is scheduled to take the USMLE Step 2 CK exam over the next two weeks. As of this evening on the USMLE website, Step 2CK has not been cancelled. We understand this may be a possibility and will work with students to ensure flexibility over this requirement if cancellations occur.
- Discovery will continue as planned. If students run into any difficulties or concerns regarding their project, they should contact Dr. Maureen Powers. Discovery travel for students is suspended at this time. Discovery administration will make no international travel arrangements pending reassessment in 1 month. Discovery leadership will similarly assess away projects at that time.
- Radiology make-up exams will not be held in the SOM. We are working with Aquifer and IT to allow you to do this at home with the Honor Code in effect. You will hear from Dr. Gadde regarding the make-up exams no later than this Friday, March 20th.
- There will be no simulations or assessments in the SOM for now.
- Small group sessions will continue as planned, but not in person. These will be done virtually via Zoom. Small group advisors will notify you regarding how to participate in these sessions.
Class of 2022:
- All clinical clerkships are suspended until at least April 6th. Students should not report to their clerkships tomorrow. All clerkship directors are aware. We will ensure that faculty are made aware this evening as well. Please be aware that the dean’s office and clerkship directors will be working non-stop to figure out plans for students and will communicate these to you in the next 1-2 days. Please do not contact individual clerkship directors. Direct all questions to Dr. Erica Brownfield. Please be patient over the next 24-48 hours while we are working on what you can do during this time. We will reach back out with an updated communication regarding this by Wednesday.
- There will be no simulations or assessments in the SOM for now.
- Small group sessions will continue as planned, but not in person. These will be done virtually via Zoom. Small group advisors will notify you regarding these sessions.
Class of 2023:
- Anatomy demos and dissections will not occur this week. Dr. McKeon will communicate any virtual plans to the class as they are made. The scheduled Virtual Anatomy Sessions for Tuesday, March 17th at 9:30 and 10:30 am and Friday, March 20th at 1pm, are CANCELLED. Dr. McKeon and Dr. Schulman are working on how we will make up the in-person Anatomy sessions (dissections, demos, with Dr. Tigges, etc.). They are looking at all options and as soon as the best option has been determined, this information will be communicated directly to students.
- OPEX is cancelled at least until the end of March.
- All lectures will be done via Zoom. A link for each lecture will be placed on the Student Portal calendar for students to access remotely. We strongly recommend you participate in these sessions as it is important for students to not fall behind. The lectures will still be recorded as usual for you to access at any time you desire.
- Small group sessions will continue as planned, but they will all be held virtually. Small group advisors and/or M4 mentors will notify you regarding how to participate in these sessions.
- Community Learning and Social Medicine (CLSM) has already planned for meetings to occur virtually on Monday afternoon. The instructions on how to participate in these virtual meetings will be sent out by the CLSM leadership. Students should not attend any gathering of community members.
- Any electives should be done virtually. Please contact your elective director to discuss plans for how this can occur.
Erica Brownfield, MD, FACP
Associate Dean, Medical Education
Professor of Medicine
William Eley, MD, MPH
Executive Associate Dean
Office of Medical Education and Student Affairs
Graduate Medical and Continuing Medical Education
Professor of Hematology/Oncology